Sustainability
- Our approach
  - Policy positions

Policy positions

Across the Barclays Group, policies and statements of intent are in place to ensure consistent governance on a range of issues.

The Copenhagen Communiqué on Climate Change is a statement summarising some of the key thinking that has come from the international business community over the last two years on climate change.

The objective of the Communiqué is to help create an ambitious, robust and equitable climate change framework, and to provide world leaders with the support they need to reach consensus at the International Climate Change negotiations in Copenhagen in December 2009.

Animal testing
In brief
When providing financial services to the pharmaceutical sector our policy is not to enter into business transactions with companies that do not comply fully with all relevant government regulations, and the terms of their licences.
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Anti-money laundering
In brief
Barclays Anti-Money Laundering Policy is designed to ensure that we comply with the requirements and obligations set out in UK legislation, regulations, rules and industry guidance for the financial services sector, including the need to have adequate systems and controls in place to mitigate the risk of the bank being used to facilitate financial crime.
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Bribery and corruption
In brief
We recognise that corruption can undermine the rule of law, democratic processes and basic human freedoms, impoverishing states and distorting free trade and competition. Our policy reflects the statutory requirements applicable in the UK as derived from the United Nations and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development conventions on corruption.
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Corporate Conduct and Ethics
In brief
We expect every Barclays employee, and others who work on our behalf, to conduct themselves according to consistently high professional and ethical standards. Minimum standards are set centrally from which more detailed codes of conduct are produced by each Barclays Business Unit, tailored to business requirements and to meet local laws and regulations.

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Data protection
In brief
Across the Group, the privacy and security of personal information is respected and protected. Our Group Privacy Policy governs how we collect, handle, store, share, use and dispose of information about people. We regard sound privacy practices as a key element of corporate governance and accountability.
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The defence industry
In brief
We provide financial services to the defence sector within a specific policy framework. Each proposal is assessed on a case-by-case basis and legal compliance alone does not automatically guarantee our support. The status of the exporter and the importing/exporting country, the nature of the equipment, its likely use and the potential for it to be on-sold are all considered as part of the assessment process.
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Environmental and social risk
In brief
We have a strong commitment to managing the environmental and social risks associated with commercial lending and recognise that a bank's major environmental impacts tend to be indirect, arising from the provision of financial services to business customers. We believe that taking due account of our environmental and social impacts is not only the right thing to do, but also makes good business sense.
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Environmental policy
In brief

This statement sets out our approach to managing our environmental impacts. We will aim for continuous improvement in mitigating our direct environmental impacts, reducing use of natural resources and preventing pollution. We will also work with clients, customers and other stakeholders to identify ways of managing our indirect impacts and to develop financial services that promote sustainability.
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Equality and diversity
In brief
Our Equality and Diversity Charter outlines our commitment to respecting and valuing colleagues, customers and clients of all backgrounds. We integrate equality and diversity rationale across our employment, supplier, community and business practices worldwide.
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Human rights
In brief
We operate in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and take account of other internationally accepted human rights standards. We also promote human rights through our employment policies and practices, through our supply chain and through the responsible use of our products and services.
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Online gaming
In brief
We provide financial services to the online gaming sector within a specific policy framework, based upon the principles of the UK Gambling Act 2005. The UK has one of the strongest regulatory regimes for online gaming in the world in which the Gambling Commission, sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, assumes the role of regulator.
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Sanctions
In brief
The Barclays Group Policy for Financial Sanctions and Prohibition of Business Activity is designed to ensure that across the business we comply with applicable financial sanctions in the jurisdictions in which we operate. We provide appropriate training to ensure colleagues are able to meet these requirements.
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- Ethics
Supply Chain
In brief
Given our operating model, we have an increasing reliance on partnerships with external suppliers of products and services. We recognise that these partnerships have significant indirect environmental and social impacts. Whilst we can outsource our requirements, we cannot outsource our responsibilities. We actively encourage our supplier partners to meet Barclays requirements in order to meet our obligations to our stakeholders.

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