Fast facts on how we are creating a brighter, more sustainable future
10/29/2020
At Zurich, we are committed to creating sustainable value for our shareholders, our customers, our employees and the communities in which we live and work. In the UK, we demonstrate our commitment to corporate responsibility with numerous Zurich initiatives and the dedication of both time and money. Below are just five ways that we are creating a brighter, more sustainable future.
1. Zurich is Carbon neutral
Zurich is carbon neutral, reaching the milestone at the end of 2014 through ambitious internal carbon emissions reduction efforts and by using forestry projects in Indonesia and Brazil to offset emissions that cannot be eliminated.
2. Sustainability commitment
We were the first insurer to sign the UN Business Ambition for 1.5˚C Pledge, committing us to set science-based targets across everything we do and reducing carbon emissions.
3. Eliminating 89% of plastic
We aim to reduce internal paper usage by 80%, have eliminated 89% of our single-use plastic globally and we continue to push for 100%. We will only use renewable energy for power by 2022.
4. Sustainable Sourcing
We help to create positive social, environmental and ethical outcomes simply by changing our buying behaviour. This is called sustainable sourcing and it’s where we embed our purpose and values into our supply chain. We are helping drive positive social, environmental and ethical outcomes simply by adopting new procurement practices.
Zurich are one of the founding members of Social Enterprise UK’s “Buy Social” Corporate Challenge, which commits 10 large UK companies from diverse industries to have spent £100m with social enterprise firms. The initiative, set up by Social Enterprise UK and the Cabinet Office, promotes sourcing and buying from British social enterprises.
5. Recycling our office furniture saving 70 tonnes of CO2
When we refurbish our offices we donate the furniture to good causes. Since partnering with Collecteco we have donated £415,000 of furniture items such as chairs and office tables which have been recycled and supported 28 good causes by being used elsewhere, such as in schools, hospitals and charities. Its also avoided 83,500 kg of carbon emissions being produced.
