Environmental protection is part and parcel of WSE’s values as a modern and competitive institution present on the European capital market.

WSE approved an environmental policy in 2013 and continued initiatives aimed at mitigating its impact on the natural environment and at raising environmental awareness among Company employees in 2014. Given that the Company is active in the financial industry, these are limited to the following: waste management and recycling; paper consumption; water consumption; energy consumption; fuel consumption and CO2 emissions; employee education through internal communications.

Furthermore, in view of its activity and role on the Polish capital market, WSE may indirectly impact the environment by promoting good behaviour of issuers and investors, as well as through promotion of and education on responsible investments.

WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING

According to its Waste Management Procedure, WSE delivers solid waste for treatment by recycling or disposal. Since February 2014, the Company segregates waste. The Exchange produced 2.2 tonnes of waste in 2014 (13.4 tonnes in 2013), of which more than a third was segregated and recycled. Decommissioned computer hardware is sold to the Company’s employees at auctions. One auction was held in 2014 and 76 pieces of hardware were sold.

PAPER CONSUMPTION

WSE has in place an Electronic Document System, operational since 2011, which has largely reduced the consumption of paper within the Exchange. Internal communication work was continued in 2014 in order to promote environmental behaviour of employees. As a result, the Company’s paper consumption decreased by nearly 25 percent year on year in 2014.

WATER CONSUMPTION

As the administrator of the office building which houses WSE’s head office and as an associate of the WSE Group, Centrum Giełdowe has in place advanced environmental solutions which reduce water consumption. The solutions were implemented as early as the architectural design work on the building, in which WSE was actively involved. All water taps are equipped with aerators which reduce water consumption. In addition, the water cascade along the eastern façade of the building uses a closed circuit as well as water treatment. In 2014, the Exchange continued communications targeting employees and visitors to promote environmental behaviour with regard to water consumption. The Company’s water consumption decreased by ca. 12 percent year on year in 2014.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Centrum Giełdowe has in place advanced environmental solutions which reduce energy consumption. Offices are equipped only with lamps whose energy consumption is lower than that of traditional light bulbs and halogen lamps. The operation of lifts is optimised and the underground car park is heated with air pumped out of offices. WSE’s head office is equipped with a Building Management System (BMS) which controls installations within the building and consequently optimises the consumption of heat, power, water, air (ventilators) and ice water for air-conditioning. BMS supports programming of lighting in offices and corridors, which is automatically switched off at 8 p.m. throughout the building. The Company's water consumption decreased by ca. 20 percent year in year in 2014.

FUEL CONSUMPTION AND CO2 EMISSIONS

WSE’s car fleet only includes vehicles which conform to applicable emission standards (EURO-4 or EURO-5). According to legal requirements, WSE pays environmental fees (for business cars).