1. Environmental Responsibility

 

• Google Cloud Infrastructure: Helix-Pay reduces its environmental impact by leveraging Google Cloud’s energy-efficient infrastructure. This choice ensures PCI-DSS compliance and secure data handling with a minimal carbon footprint. Google Cloud’s data centres operate with high energy efficiency and are powered by renewable energy, aligning with Helix-Pay’s commitment to sustainable practices.

• Digital-First and Paperless Operations: Helix-Pay maintains a paperless policy as a digital payments platform, conducting operations online to minimize resource usage. By centralizing data storage and processing on Google Cloud, we reduce the environmental impact traditionally associated with on-premises servers and office-based work.

• Remote Work Policies: Helix-Pay encourages remote work options for employees, further decreasing commuting carbon emissions. This approach supports environmental goals and our commitment to work-life flexibility, enhancing employee well-being and sustainability.

• Continuous Improvement in Sustainability: Helix-Pay continually assesses its technology and operational choices, prioritizing vendors and partners who share our environmental values. We will continue to explore eco-friendly technologies and practices to minimize our carbon footprint as we scale.

 

2. Social Responsibility

 

• Data Privacy & Security: Helix-Pay prioritises protecting Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in compliance with GDPR, PCI-DSS, and other security standards. Our KYC/AML processes ensure secure, compliant handling of sensitive information, establishing trust with customers and end-users.

• Diversity & Inclusion: Helix-Pay is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values varied perspectives and experiences. We uphold equal opportunity hiring and fair compensation practices and promote diversity in all forms, fostering an environment where employees feel respected and supported.

• Community Engagement: Helix-Pay actively supports the fintech and charitable sectors, offering reduced fees for nonprofits to further their missions. Additionally, we encourage our employees to engage in community service and support initiatives that benefit underrepresented groups, fostering a culture of social responsibility.

 

3. Governance Practices

 

• Ethical Business Conduct: Helix-Pay adheres to high ethics, transparency, and integrity standards in all business dealings. We comply with relevant market laws and regulations, ensuring honest and responsible practices in every transaction.

• Accountability & Transparency: Helix-Pay’s board and leadership team are dedicated to accountability. We review ESG performance regularly and maintain open communication with stakeholders on policy improvements, reflecting our commitment to transparency and continuous enhancement.

• Risk & Compliance Management: Helix-Pay has established a robust compliance framework, including regular internal audits to uphold regulatory standards such as PSD2, AML, and KYC requirements. Our risk management approach addresses operational and reputational risks, supporting sustainable growth and regulatory alignment.

 

4. Review and Reporting

 

Helix-Pay will assess its ESG goals annually and report progress transparently to stakeholders. Regular updates to this policy will ensure alignment with evolving industry standards and stakeholder expectations. Our commitment to transparency includes publishing an annual ESG report highlighting achievements, challenges, and areas for improvement.

1. Stakeholder Engagement and ESG Accountability

 

• Stakeholder Engagement: Helix-Pay values active engagement with our stakeholders, including customers, employees, investors, and community partners. We are committed to an open dialogue on ESG initiatives and consider feedback to drive meaningful improvements, and ensure that our practices align with stakeholder expectations.

• ESG Committee and Oversight: To oversee ESG activities, Helix-Pay will establish an internal ESG Committee led by members from our compliance, legal, operations, and human resources teams. This committee will meet quarterly to review policy adherence, assess ESG metrics, and recommend updates to the policy, ensuring we stay responsive to industry standards and best practices.

• Employee Involvement: Helix-Pay believes in fostering a culture of ESG commitment at all levels. We will encourage employees to participate in sustainability initiatives and offer training on data privacy, compliance, and diversity to embed ESG principles throughout the company.

 

5. ESG Goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

 

• Environmental KPIs: Track and report on data centre energy usage, carbon footprint from operations, and percentage of renewable energy utilized in cloud infrastructure.

• Social KPIs: Measure diversity in hiring, data privacy compliance metrics (such as GDPR adherence rates), and community engagement through partnerships and volunteer hours.

• Governance KPIs: Regularly audit and report on regulatory compliance rates (including PSD2 and AML adherence), conduct annual reviews of risk management protocols, and maintain complete transparency in financial reporting and ESG outcomes.