Aviva plc has been ranked the top performing insurer in the 2004 Business in the Community (BitC) Corporate Responsibility Index. This year the index had 139 participants, from which the company was ranked in fifth position overall and top of the insurance sector.
Aviva plc has been ranked the top performing insurer in the 2004 Business in the Community (BitC) Corporate Responsibility Index. This year the index had 139 participants, from which the company was ranked in fifth position overall and top of the insurance sector.
The index provides a systematic approach to managing, measuring and reporting the impacts companies have upon society and their environment.
Companies were assessed for their performance in five areas: corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, integration of CSR issues, CSR management, performance and impact, and CSR assurance. Aviva performed strongly in all five areas.
Anthony Sampson, Aviva’s director of CSR, commented: "It’s vital for a business to remain alert and responsive to the changes taking place around it. Its future depends upon how well it’s aligned to the society in which it operates. A strong CSR programme helps ensure that there is a close alignment and the CR Index provides effective measurement."
Aviva’s CSR policy covers eight key areas: relations with workforce, customers, suppliers and the community; management of the environment, human rights, health and safety and adherence to standards of business conduct. The company regularly reviews performance in each of these areas and publishes a report annually to report on progress.
David Varney, chairman, BitC, said:" The index shines a spotlight on strategic decision making, on the line of accountability and how the environmental and social impacts of the decision are measured and managed."
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Aviva’s CSR activity in 2003 – some examples:
- 98% of Aviva’s employees are now covered by the company’s CSR programme (2002: 95%)
- 86% of the Norwich Union property portfolio in the UK uses renewable-sourced electricity, with zero CO2 emissions – an increase of 56% since 2002
- 33% reduction in paper usage worldwide achieved through increased use of electronic rather than paper-based communications
- Introduction of two wormeries in Aviva’s head office in London, as part of the waste recycling initiative
- Ł4.6 million donated to various world-wide community projects
- 89% of our employees worldwide have access to third party employee assistance programmes providing impartial, confidential advice on any issues affecting them
- Work/life balance initiatives were put in place during the year, such as the offer of WeightWatchers classes in Aviva USA and Hibernian, and yoga classes in Aviva Hong Kong, Aviva head office in London, Morley Fund Management and Aviva Australia
- Reduced supplier payment times.
Notes to editors
- For further details of Aviva’s CSR programme, visit our website at /responsibility
- Download a picture of Anthony Sampson, director of corporate social responsibility, Aviva plc
- Aviva’s 2004 CSR report will be published online in April.
- Aviva is one of the leading providers of life and pensions to Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world’s seventh-largest insurance group based on gross world-wide premiums.
- Aviva’s principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with world-wide premium income and retail investment sales from continuing operations of around Ł30 billion and assets under management of more than Ł240 billion.
- The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes free images, company and product information and a news release archive – register to receive regular Aviva news releases by e-mail.