Standard Chartered has announced the full integration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Principles for Sustainable Trade Finance (PSTF) into its operations. The move makes Standard Chartered the first global bank to adopt the standardised framework, which addresses environmental and social sustainability across all major trade finance activities.
The ICC PSTF is built upon four pillars designed to assess and communicate sustainability performance: Green Trade, Social Trade, Sustainability-Linked Trade, and Sustainability-Linked Supply Chain Finance. By adopting these standards, the bank aims to streamline the transition to net-zero financing by 2050 while providing clients with a “common language” for ESG reporting.
“The integration of the ICC Principles is a significant milestone for both our clients and the wider industry,” said Sofia Hammoucha, Global Head of Trade & Working Capital at Standard Chartered. “By setting clear, transparent and consistent standards, we empower our clients to achieve measurable sustainability outcomes.”
The implementation is expected to offer several industry benefits, including enhanced transparency, more efficient onboarding processes, and the ability for clients to link trade pricing directly to measurable ESG targets. Currently, the framework’s “Green Trade” pillar has already seen endorsement from 11 other leading global trade banks, indicating strong market momentum.
Andrew Wilson, Deputy Secretary General at the ICC, noted the importance of the bank’s early adoption: “It demonstrates that a globally consistent, practical and scalable framework is achievable and can support greater transparency, comparability and consistency across markets.”
The ICC remains committed to establishing the PSTF as the definitive global benchmark, helping to accelerate the shift toward more resilient and inclusive global trade flows.
