Bank Mandiri lets customers keep track of personal emissions

Indonesia’s biggest lender by assets wants people to become sustainability champions.

Jakarta-based Bank Mandiri now allows users of its superapp, Livin’ by Mandiri, to calculate their carbon footprint from daily activities such as electricity use and transportation, amidst a global push to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The superapp’s “Livin’ Planet” feature also suggests practical ways to offset harmful environmental practices, such as by planting trees.

“Through this feature, customers can independently measure and understand the impact of their activities on the environment,” Darmawan Junaidi, president-director at Indonesia’s biggest bank by assets, said in a statement.
Customers can participate in the bank’s tree-planting program, which is being carried out by its conservation partner, Jejakin, using funds from app users.

“Through this app, customers can access reports that enable them to monitor their contributions to the environmental preservation program, making their involvement more transparent,” Darmawan said.

He said the bank acts as an ESG (environmental, social, and governance) adviser for customers transitioning to a low-carbon economy, partly through the Livin’ Planet feature, and provides financing for climate-based programs such as conservation and renewable energy projects.

Bank Mandiri had $17.7b (Rp285t) worth of sustainable loans as of September 2024, with green financing continuing to increase, Darmawan said.

Indonesia, which has the third-largest tropical forest cover in the world and the largest mangrove ecosystem covering more than 3.36 million hectares, is a focal point in the world’s emission reduction efforts.

These make Southeast Asia’s most populous nation home to the second-biggest nature-based solutions in the world, with the potential to absorb 1.5 Gigatons (Gt) of carbon dioxide yearly.

Bank Mandiri is supporting the country’s key role in cutting emissions, Darmawan said. “Bank Mandiri is committed to not only providing financing but also becoming a transformation partner for our customers by helping them transition to more sustainable business practices,” he said.

“Our big dream is to make our customers sustainability champions who can make a tangible positive impact on the environment, while simultaneously gaining a competitive advantage,” he added.