Mary Wenzel – Director, Enviromental Affairs, Wells Fargo

Meet one of PINK’s Top 10 Women in Sustainability, 2011!

By Rachel Pomerance

Mary Wenzel has been working in environmental issues long enough to see the proverbial paradigm shift. “For so long it seemed there was the implication that being environmentally responsible came at a cost – either monetarily or in doing with less,” says Wenzel.

“Today, there is growing awareness that it makes good business sense for companies to operate efficiently – less energy plus less resources equals lower expenses. Our senior management recognizes how important these issues are to our team members, communities, and customers. In addition, the ‘green choice’ is now becoming the ‘premium choice.’”

Toward that end, Wenzel says she tries to weave environmental stewardship into the DNA of the corporate culture.

Best practices and programs with the biggest impact?

• Financing Renewable Energy Projects: In 2005, Wells Fargo added an environmental finance team to assess the risks and opportunities of renewable energy. Wells Fargo has put more than $6 billion into environmental projects in just five years, including commercial-scale solar projects and U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program certification of green commercial real estate.

• Curbing Emissions: Well on its way to meeting the company goal to curb emissions by 20 percent of its 2008 levels by 2018, Wells Fargo slashed emissions by 7 percent in 2009.

• Behavioral Changes: More than 50 Green Teams represent Wells Fargo among their colleagues and communities. Their work includes organizing volunteer events, creating education programs and leading energy efficiency campaigns.

What’s next?

“Wells Fargo sustainability goals focus on four areas with the greatest potential for indirect and direct environmental impact: customers, communities, team members and operations,” Wenzel says. The objectives include:

• Changing Customer Habits: With 70 million customers nationwide, Wells Fargo can encourage countless customers toward sustainability. For example, Wells Fargo says its online banking and Envelope-FreeSM ATMs have saved more than 200,000 trees since 2006. In early 2010, Wells Fargo donated $30,000 to the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees in honor of customers who choose online-only banking.

• Providing Community Grants: “When our communities do well, we do well,” Wenzel says. In 2009, Wells Fargo contributed more than $3.4 million to more than 340 nonprofits that support renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green buildings and education, and hopes to continue expanding the program.

• Committing to Green Buildings: Along with converting Wachovia buildings to LEED status for existing buildings, Wells Fargo ensures all new construction of its banks are certified at the LEED Silver or Gold level. In addition, nine Wells Fargo buildings meet the EPA’s ENERGY STAR rating and the Department of Energy excellence in energy performance program.

   

   

Rachel Pomerance, a writer and public relations professional, specializes in sustainable transportation at Pomerance & Associates. The all-female firm, which is owned by her mother, Barbara Pomerance, manages the communications for the Washington Auto Show®.