Our Financing Activities also support Transformation and Infrastructure Projects
Biodiversity Use Cases in Lending
As part of its lending activities, NORD/LB is exploring the potential development of biodiversity use cases that may go beyond financing alone. These approaches are intended to consider complementary measures supporting biodiversity in connection with financing, for example potential funding for conservation projects, reforestation measures or ecosystem restoration.
The aim is to gradually give greater consideration to biodiversity aspects in financing decisions and, through dialogue, raise customers' awareness of the dependencies and impacts of their business models on ecosystem services. This approach may include analysing relevant dependencies and impacts and advising on complementary measures that support biodiversity.
Review Processes & Quality Assurance
Financing is classified as 'green' through a structured process:
- criteria-based assessment against defined frameworks and guidelines
- application of minimum standards and exclusion criteria
- documentation of the basis for decisions and traceability
- monitoring and regular review
- further development in line with regulatory requirements and market standards
Reporting & Key Figures
Transparency is a key element of our approach. We regularly report on our sustainability activities and selected metrics through our established reporting formats.
EUR 3,684 million *&
Volume of sustainable emissions (liabilities side) as of 30 Sep 2025
EUR 6,990 million *
EU taxonomy-compliant share as of 30 Sep 2025
External review
ISS Corporate has audited the Green Funding Reporting
* according to CSRD report 2025
Our frameworks and criteria for sustainable-oriented financing activities
Our activities are implemented on the basis of defined frameworks and guidelines that are regularly reviewed and further developed. These include, in particular, the regulatory requirements of the EU Taxonomy, the Sustainable Loan Framework, the Transformation Guidelines and NORD/LB's Green Funding Framework.
EU Taxonomy
NORD/LB uses the EU Taxonomy as a regulatory classification system for economic activities. In particular, it supports:
- the structured assessment of environmental criteria,
- the determination of Taxonomy-eligible and Taxonomy-aligned shares for the respective Taxonomy-relevant exposures,
- transparency within non-financial and regulatory reporting.
The EU Taxonomy is applied in accordance with the applicable regulatory requirements. The relevant disclosures, including Taxonomy eligibility, Taxonomy alignment and the Green Asset Ratio, are provided in the sustainability reporting.
Sustainable Loan Framework (SLF)
NORD/LB uses a Sustainable Loan Framework for the internal assessment and classification of sustainability-related lending exposures. The framework provides an internal catalogue of criteria for classifying financing as Sustainable Loans and is generally aligned with the EU Taxonomy. It supports the consistent application of sustainability-related criteria in the lending process as well as the internal management and analysis of the corresponding financing activities.
Transformation Guidelines
Through its Transformation Guidelines, NORD/LB defines the framework conditions for new business activities. They include minimum standards, general business exclusion criteria and sector-specific requirements and principles. Their purpose is to ensure that environmental, social and ethical aspects are considered in financing decisions and that ESG risks in business activities are limited.
Green Funding Framework
The ongoing development of the Green Funding Framework takes into account regulatory requirements, prevailing market standards and the availability of the data required for its implementation. This Framework describes the criteria and processes used to assess assets for potential inclusion as the refinancing basis of certain liabilities designated as "green" and, where the relevant requirements are met, to determine their eligibility.
The objective is to issue refinancing instruments backed by assets that have been assessed in accordance with the criteria set out in the Green Funding Framework. The use of proceeds is carried out in line with the requirements defined within the Framework.
Assets generally eligible for consideration may include, subject to the applicable criteria and individual assessment, new buildings, renovation projects, property developments, certified existing buildings, energy-efficient building refurbishments and investments in renewable energy. In the renewable energy sector, the Green Asset Pool may, subject to the applicable criteria of the Green Funding Framework, include photovoltaic installations, onshore and offshore wind energy projects, as well as energy storage solutions.
The Green Funding Framework is guided by the International Capital Market Association’s (ICMA) Green Bond Principles (GBP) and the Minimum standards for Green Pfandbriefe issued by the Association of German Pfandbrief Banks (vdp).
The Second Party Opinion (SPO) provided by ISS Corporate assesses the design and structure of the Framework against recognised market standards. It does not constitute an assessment of the actual environmental impact of individual assets or financial products.