BBVA obtains LEED Gold Certification for its Milan and São Paulo offices

Presented by the U.S. Green Building Council, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification positions both buildings among the most advanced worldwide in terms of sustainability. Both had to meet stringent criteria related to energy efficiency, responsible water management, the use of sustainable materials and indoor environmental quality.

“This recognition reflects our commitment to integrating sustainability into all our workspaces. The LEED Gold certification of our offices demonstrates that it is possible to combine efficiency, innovation and employee wellbeing, moving toward a more responsible, efficient and future-ready model,” said Borja Eugui, Head of Design and Build Projects at BBVA. With these two new certifications, BBVA now has 21 buildings with the LEED seal, in addition to eight certified branches and three offices in its international network. The bank has a total of more than one million square meters of certified space in countries such as Argentina, the U.S., Spain, Mexico, Peru and Türkiye.

The BBVA offices in Milan and São Paulo added innovative solutions over the past year that have enabled them to optimize resource consumption, reduce emissions and improve employees’ comfort. Some of these solutions include high-efficiency lighting and climate control systems, technologies to monitor energy in real time and spaces designed to maximize natural light and air quality.

The Milan office is located just a few steps from the Duomo, on the pedestrian-only Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, right in the Italian city’s historic district. It is home to 105 employees from BBVA’s Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) and Digital Banking areas, as of the year-end 2025. Its location has encouraged sustainable mobility thanks to the multiple public transportation options, reducing dependence on private vehicles and helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Meanwhile, the BBVA office in São Paulo is located in the Plaza Faria Lima building in the Brazilian city’s financial district, with direct access to public transportation, shops, parks and cultural attractions. As of year-end, 73 employees worked there, mostly from the CIB area. After moving to its new location in April 2025, the financial institution has made a series of improvements, such as installing low-flow faucets and fixtures, which have reduced potable water consumption by 43 percent compared to the baseline standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In both offices, all climate control, lighting and energy consumption system installations were designed and verified to ensure optimal performance. Thanks to these steps, they have saved approximately 21 percent of energy costs for lighting, compared to a standard U.S. building. In addition, all equipment is Energy Star certified, and monitoring systems enable detailed tracking of energy consumption.

During the renovation phase, responsible criteria were also implemented for procurement and waste management, resulting in a recycling and landfill diversion rate of 75 percent of the waste generated. Furthermore, 15 percent of material costs were allocated to products with sustainable features, such as recycled content, and materials with Environmental Product Declarations were given priority, as they provide transparency and help to minimize the impact on health.

By obtaining these certifications, BBVA is consolidating its global commitment to sustainability. The bank continues to advance in its aim to reduce the environmental footprint of its operations, in line with its strategy to combat climate change and its commitment to a transition toward a greener economy.