As of 31 December 2024, SEB’s portfolio of eligible green assets amounted to 82.7 billion kronor, an increase of more than 30 per cent compared to 2023. The growth came mainly from financing in the categories renewable energy and green buildings. The proceeds of the green bonds outstanding in 2024, are estimated to have avoided/reduced emissions by 1.9 million tonnes CO2 equivalents. This corresponds to emissions from nearly 2.7 million cars running an average distance of 12,000 km/year.*
“The growth of SEB's lending portfolio backing our green bond issuance is a testimony to our customers' continuous efforts to transition and SEB's important role in supporting them in this endeavour,” says Hans Beyer, Chief Sustainability Officer. “This development has helped contribute to the 175 per cent increase in our Sustainability Activity Index in 2024, where our overall ambition is to increase sustainability activities by 6–8 times by 2030 compared with a 2021 baseline.”
SEB updated its Green Bond Framework in February 2025. In its second party opinion, S&P Global gave the framework a Medium Green shading. The framework remains broadly aligned with the substantial contribution criteria of the EU Taxonomy and aims to contribute to the long-term vision of a low-carbon and environmentally sustainable society. It is also aligned with ICMA’s Green Bond Principles. The framework supersedes the previous framework from 2022.
ICMA is short for International Capital Market Association. It is a membership-based organisation for capital markets participants.
“Green bonds have been a part of SEB’s funding strategy since 2017, complementing our other market financing. With the new framework, we remain committed to continue issuing green bonds. By doing so we can further diversify our global investor base while supporting the bank’s customers in their sustainability transitions,” says Kimberly Bauner, Head of Group Treasury at SEB. Including the most recent green bond issued under the new framework in March 2025, SEB has six green bonds outstanding, together amounting to 5 billion euros, or 55 billion kronor.
More information about SEB’s sustainability work can be found in the Annual Report 2024.
Download Green Bond Investor Report 2024 (pdf)
Annual and Sustainability Reports
Download the Green Bond Investor Report and Green Bond Framework
*The preliminary average emissions from a new car in Sweden was 59 g CO2/km in 2024 (ref. The Swedish Transport Administration).