Sustainability

1. A forward-looking education

We are committed to empowering vulnerable people by equipping them with both technical and non-technical skills needed for a future-proof job.

PepinTEEN

PepinTEEN is an edu-tech programme, launched in 2018, developed with the local NGO Școala de Valori. The project combines IT and soft skills and is dedicated to adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds who have a knack for technology. Within this project we developed four educational hubs (in Bucharest, Brașov, Cluj-Napoca and Iași), in collaboration with Transylvania University (Brașov), Academy of Economic Studies (Bucharest), Babeș-Bolyai University (Cluj-Napoca) and Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (Iași). Between 2018 – 2024, PepinTEEN supported more than 1500 adolescents to be more prepared for a future-proof job.

Scholarship fund for robotics and programming

The project was launched in 2024 with Fundația Comunitară București, aiming to provide scholarships to high school and university students focusing on STEM and excelling in programming and robotics.

To date, the project has awarded 43 scholarships, totalling 150,000 EUR, to students in 17 cities across the country. The recipients include 37 teams and 6 individual applicants, helping them advance their skills in their respective fields.

2. A stronger sense of community

Giving back to society is a core value at ING Hubs Romania. We support social projects that help vulnerable individuals find security and a sense of community.

Grivița Community Centre

The Grivița Community Centre seeks to improve the life quality of a vulnerable community of 1,700 beneficiaries per year in Berzei – Mircea Vulcănescu – Grivița area, near ING Hubs Romania headquarter. The project provides social assistance, educational activities for children and adolescents and vocational coaching for adults. This project is coordinated by Carusel NGO.

Doubling the joy

“Doubling the joy” is our traditional social responsibility project meant to help people in vulnerable situations have a better year ahead — colleagues register as fundraisers for causes they believe in, and ING Hubs Romania doubles the amount of money raised.

In the previous six editions (2019 - 2024) our colleagues raised over 358.000 EUR for more than 40 NGOs (ING Hubs Romania’s contribution included) and over 1000 people were supported (poor families, children in foster care, people with disabilities, elders in need and others).

Cooking for Good

This project focuses on providing food to people in extreme vulnerability. Every year, 100 colleagues come together on the last Saturday of September to cook zacuscă and prepare pickles. In 2023 and 2024, we prepared 2622 jars of zacusca, 10 barrels of pickles, and 300 kg of frozen fruits and vegetables, all of which were distributed to those in need, beneficiaries of Carusel, Ana și Copiii and Touched Romania NGOs.

Blood donation campaigns

These annual campaigns aim to collect blood for individuals in medical emergencies. Three times a year, a mobile team from the Blood Transfusion Centre comes to collect blood from colleagues who voluntarily register as donors. The initiative takes place in our office building and helps address the ongoing need for life-saving blood donations. To date, we’ve had 559 blood donors, 251.5 L of blood donated, and potentially saved up to 503 lives.

100 gifts for 100 children

Since 2023, our mission has been to bring holiday joy to children from disadvantaged backgrounds by fulfilling their Christmas and Easter wish lists. With the help of our partners, Ana și Copiii and Touched Romania, we’ve delivered personalized gifts to 500 children across the country. We started with 100 gifts for 100 children for Christmas 2023, continued with another 100 for Easter 2024, and again for Christmas 2024. By Easter 2025, we doubled our impact, reaching 200 children and making the holidays a little brighter for each one.

3. A healthy environment

A healthy environment is fundamental to life. Our efforts are directed towards raising awareness about climate change effects and educating people on strategies to adapt to new climatic conditions.

Run for a Forest marathon

Yearly, we are organizing Run for a Forest marathon backed by the promise to plant one tree for each kilometre run by ING Hubs Romania employees and their friends and family. From 2020 to 2025, over 28,300 trees were planted in the southern region of Romania, one of the most deforested areas in the country, with the help of our partner in this project -ViitorPlus.

Tree-planting

Each year, we organize tree-planting activities where ING Hubs Romania’s employees, along with friends and families, actively contribute to reforestation. These community-driven events aim to restore natural landscapes and enhance environmental preservation. To date, with the help of 950 volunteers we have successfully planted over 29,800 seedlings in various regions, including Călărași, Prahova, Teleorman, and Cluj.

Second Chance fair

We are also exposing our employees to circular economy principles (reduce, reuse, recycle) by organising “second chance fairs” or “food waste campaigns”. Through four editions of the second chance fairs, we have donated a total of 2,142 kg of goods, helping people facing extreme vulnerability.