Environment
Biogas
The biogas project that Aviva sponsors is located in a rural community in Sri Lanka, and run by the charity Practical Action.
The project replaces wood, a fuel source that is becoming increasingly expensive and scarce, with biogas, which is generated from cow manure and water. The fermentation process releases methane, which is then stored and piped to homes to be used as a free, sustainable source of energy for cooking and lighting.
The biogas also reduces the risk of indoor air pollution, one of the biggest killers in the world, and enables the women usually responsible for collecting wood to spend more time on new, income-generating activities.
Aviva’s involvement in the project generates 3,000 tonnes of carbon credits.
Treadle pumps
In Uttar Pradesh, northern India, a large percentage of the population live below the poverty line. Irrigation is vitally important to crop production in the area, but fuel for diesel pumps is both expensive and polluting, and the pumps themselves cost 70-100 Rs per hour to rent. Aviva is involved with a project that promotes the use of human-powered treadle pumps, a cost-effective and non-polluting alternative.
The treadle pumps are usually operated in the early morning and in the evening to avoid the scorching heat of the day, and for three to seven hours a day, depending on the season. The pump can be operated in shifts by entire families, and can form the centre of social activity.
Being able to use treadle pumps at any time, and irrigate their fields daily, has had a spectacular impact on the income of farmers in the region. In one sample, rural households more than doubled their income, from an average 15,000 Rs per household per year to 35,500 Rs per household per year.
Wind turbines
The growth in the economies of China and India are having a rapidly growing impact on climate change, and although China is still building coal-fired power stations, it is also using hydro-electricity stations and wind turbines to help meets the growing demand for energy. In fact, it is expected to reach its 2010 wind power capacity target of 5GW by the end of 2008.
Aviva sources credits from a wind turbine project located in Hebei Province, 250 kilometres north of Beijing. It is one of the windiest places in the country, and also the latest province that we have won a licence to operate in, under the Aviva-COFCO partnership. As China is an emerging market for businesses and many of the products we source are manufactured there, it is an ideal way of supporting a drive to a low-carbon economy.
The majority of electricity in India is generated from coal and oil, which carry the associated problems of air pollution and emissions. Our wind turbine project is on a smaller scale and is situated in Tamil Nahdu state. The turbines are manufactured in India, and Indian investors and engineers are driving the project forwards.
Between the two projects, Aviva has sourced 59,000 carbon credits.
‘Green’ Cement
Cement production is the world’s second-largest stationary source of CO2 emissions after energy generation, creating 932 million tonnes of CO2 per year.
Aviva has chosen to offset some of its CO2 emissions through two projects, in the Netherlands and in Ireland, that provide a substitute to conventional ‘Portland’ cement. This ‘green’ cement is made from the by-product of iron and steel production, and results in emissions of 0.8 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of cement less than conventional cement-making methods.
The project, from which Aviva has sourced 30,000 tonnes of carbon credits, has won a sustainability award in Ireland.
Earthwatch award
As part of our commitment to the climate change agenda, Aviva UK presented an Aviva/Earthwatch international award for climate change research to Dr Chris Stevenson. This £6,000 award will allow Dr Stevenson to continue his work on Easter Island, where he is investigating whether prolonged climate change was the cause of societal demise over 300 years ago. This crucial work could aim to provide a model for Earth’s resistance to climate change.
Keeping vehicle emissions in check
In recognition of RAC’s investment in projects to reduce its carbon footprint and create both environmental and social benefits, the company retained the Breakdown/Recovery Company of the Year title in the 2007 Greenfleet Awards. Judges were impressed with innovations such as the eco-sheets that its vehicle check subsidiary company, HPI, provide free of charge to used car dealers. These allow buyers to make more informed decisions based on emissions and fuel economy data.
Zero emission electricity
In 2007, 61% of our worldwide electricity was purchased from suppliers providing renewable and zero emission electricity generated by wind, solar, biomass, hydro, and combined heat and power (CHP) sources, an increase of 6% from last year. We expect this percentage to increase in 2008 as our businesses either increase their use of zero emission electricity or switch from electricity generated from fossil fuels to renewable sources.
In Australia, we signed a contract in late 2007 to begin using 25% ‘green energy’ for our Melbourne premises while Hibernian in Ireland plans to purchase 100% renewable energy for its branches in 2008.
Aviva goes solar
To help raise awareness of the need to reduce our transport emissions, the Aviva Southern Aurora solar car took part in the Panasonic World Solar Challenge in Australia in October 2007. More than 40 teams participated, driving the 3,000 kilometres from Darwin to Adelaide with only sunlight for fuel. The Aviva sponsored car finished third in its class, and sixth overall. Capable of reaching 75 kph, the car runs on less electricity than a toaster and emits no carbon dioxide.
For more information, visit
www.avivasolarcar.com and www.wsc.org.au.
Paper Tree Foundation
As part of a new partnership with Copacul de Hartie (‘The Paper Tree’), a non-governmental organisation, Aviva Romania introduced paper only bins that were collected by Paper Tree volunteers for recycling. The money raised is used to plant trees across Bucharest. In the eight months since the project was launched, more than 330 companies and 60 individuals have provided 140,000 kg of paper and 17,000 kg of cardboard for recycling, and 1,120 young trees have been planted in Bucharest.
For more information, see www.copaculdehartie.ro
Power Smart Contest 2007
Aviva Hong Kong sponsored the ‘Power Smart Contest 2007’ organised by Friends of the Earth, Hong Kong. This project is an appeal to the public to reduce their electricity consumption and the emissions of power plants in Hong Kong in order to mitigate the dangers of air pollution. Aviva HK is the first company from the commercial sector to sponsor this campaign. The contest required each participating household to save at least 3% on electricity consumption in any two consecutive months from June to August in 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006.
Greener building management for Hibernian
To date, Hibernian has been purchasing electricity with a 10% renewable element. From 2008, Hibernian branches will purchase 100% renewable electricity. Kitchen items such as plastic water cups and salad bowls are biodegradable and we are working with our catering supplier to try to source biodegradable cups for hot drinks. The installation of conferencing facilities at Head Office has reduced the need for business travel, and a new onsite baler and shredder has enabled us to recycle 100% of waste paper.