Aviva Australia today released its inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report, detailing performance and governance practices across social, environmental and occupational health and safety (OHS) responsibilities.
Aviva Australia today released its inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report, detailing performance and governance practices across social, environmental and occupational health and safety (OHS) responsibilities.
Created in conjunction with the Monash Environmental Institute, the report complements the global CSR report released by Aviva Australia’s parent company Aviva plc in March 2004. It is also in line with the global standards of reporting under the United Nations sponsored Global Reporting Initiative.
The CSR report is an accurate account on Aviva’s environmental, safety and social performances over 2003. It includes policies regarding occupational health and safety plus topical social agendas, along with realistic targets for 2004.
Rob Gill, Project Manager for CSR at Aviva, says the report details Aviva’s areas of strength alongside those performances that can be improved upon.
"A key value at Aviva is integrity, and this report recognises our operations may have indirect social and environmental impacts. However, we are committed to improvement. This is a step towards a balanced and accountable approach to business," said Mr Gill.
With a strong pedigree in social performance Aviva plc in the UK was ranked as the top-performing insurer in the 2004 Business in the Community Corporate Responsibility Index.
Aviva plc is the also only UK insurer to be included in both the Dow Jones Sustainability World and STOXX Indexes and also being a member of the FTSE4 Good Index Series. The company also chaired the UK FORGE group of banks and insurers responsible for developing CSR guidelines for UK financial services.
Aviva Australia’s first independent social responsibility report is available for viewing online at www.avivagroup.com.au
For further information please contact:
Simon Morgan
tel: +61 3 9829 8892
mob:+61 407 966 632
Notes to editors:
- Aviva Australia is a group of two specialist financial services companies: Navigator Australia Limited and Norwich Union Life Australia Ltd. Portfolio Partners, the Australian funds management arm of Aviva plc, is a sister company. Through these companies we provide products and services in the areas of wealth creation, wealth management and wealth protection for more than 300,000 customers throughout Australia.
- Globally, Aviva Australia is part of Aviva plc, the world’s seventh largest insurance group, the largest insurer in the UK and one of the top five life companies in Europe. Aviva was formed in May 2000 through the global merger of CGU plc and Norwich Union plc.
- Aviva is a leading provider of life and pensions products to Europe and has substantial businesses elsewhere around the world. Its main activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance. It has premium income and investment sales from continuing operations of A$66.08 billion, and more than A$472 billion of assets under management (as at 1 January 2004). The group has more than 59,000 employees and 25 million customers worldwide.