HSBC Australia has installed a four-metre high ‘living lion’ sculpture in Sydney’s Barangaroo precinct to celebrate the launch of its 40th branch and highlight the bank’s commitment to sustainability.
Constructed with 5,600 plants and hydrated with recycled water from the Barangaroo precinct, the lion was created in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, of which HSBC is the Principal Environment Partner.
“As the foremost botanical science and conservation institution in Australia, we are very proud to support HSBC’s lion activation in Barangaroo. HSBC and the Botanic Garden’s 22 year partnership is underpinned by a shared commitment to protect the natural environment and inspire and educate younger generations about the diversity and importance of plants,” said The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney curator manager David Laughlin.
The environmentally-friendly lion also references HSBC’s commitment to tackle climate change and support sustainable growth, including a pledge to provide USD100bn in sustainable finance and investment by 2025.
“Lions have played a unique role in HSBC’s history, with bronze statues guarding many HSBC offices around the world for almost a century. Our living, breathing lion is a tribute to this legacy as well as our commitment to a greener future,” said HSBC Australia head of retail banking and wealth management Jessica Power.
“We’re particularly delighted to have worked with the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, our partner for over two decades, to create the lion in an ecologically-sustainable way,” she added.
