20 January 2009 saw the formalisation of the Insurers' Sustainable Development Charter, drawn up by the French Insurance Association, which represents members of the FFSA (French Federation of Insurance Companies) and GEMA (Association of Mutual Insurers).
20 January 2009 saw the formalisation of the Insurers' Sustainable Development Charter, drawn up by the French Insurance Association, which represents members of the FFSA (French Federation of Insurance Companies) and GEMA (Association of Mutual Insurers).
From the outset, Aviva, a major player in the French insurance market, was fully involved in the drafting of this founding text that mirrors its own commitments. Indeed, for more than 10 years, Aviva, the world's fifth-largest insurance group and the leading provider of life insurance and retirement savings in Europe, has been implementing a CSR strategy which remains one of the group's core concerns. Aviva's Sustainable Development policy in France is reflected in the commitments set out in the Charter and has already been translated into numerous concrete actions.
The Charter sets five objectives:
1 - Adopt a position as a responsible Sustainable Development actor
Aviva plc's involvement in Sustainable Development can be seen on several levels. For instance, Aviva is the first insurance group to have neutralised its CO2 emissions. Moreover, Aviva plc's CSR policy is led at the highest level by the board of directors of the group and the CEOs of each of its subsidiaries, including Jean-Pierre Menanteau for Aviva France.
Aviva has won several awards for its Sustainable Development policy: the 2006/2007 Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes prize, the first global indexes that track the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies; the FTSE4Good Index Series prize, designed to measure the performance of companies that meet globally recognised corporate responsibility standards and facilitate investment in those companies; the Global Diversity and Innovation Award, presented in 2007 by the World Diversity Leadership Council, under the auspices of the United Nations Global Compact; one of the five Corporate Diversity Trophies, received in February 2009 for the creation of the "Diversity Game", a fun, educational tool intended to raise the awareness of Aviva employees to corporate diversity.
For Aviva, positioning itself as a responsible sustainable development actor also means offering long-term guidance and assistance to its clients. One of the key features of this long-term support is Aviva's "Good Advice" approach, which is designed to help clients find solutions and services that match their needs, provide them with greater clarify regarding management of their contracts and increase their prosperity, while giving them peace of mind.
As part of this approach, in 2008, Aviva launched two educational websites offering advice and tips: www.bonconseil.fr and www.bienpreparersaretraite.fr.
www.bonconseil.fr objectively guides savers in their choice of investment, providing comprehensive information to enable them to fully understand the various issues linked to wealth management.
www.bienpreparersaretraite.fr provides a full range of practical and objective information, definitions and explanations to help those planning for retirement.
2 - Contribute to the fight against climate change, its consequences and more generally preservation of the environment
Aviva encourages its clients and prospects to adopt ecological attitudes through its marketing and products. For example, the company offers reduced premiums to drivers who use their vehicles in moderation (mileage-based insurance and low-mileage bonuses), drive a vehicle that emits less than 130g of CO2 per kilometre, or regularly use public transport. Aviva also promotes green practices with innovative products such as the new Pack Energie (Energy Pack) for insuring solar panels and the Pack Vélocité (Pedal Power Pack), which covers the risks of car drivers who regularly use their bikes.
3 - Support economic development, help reduce social vulnerability and contribute to sustainable social welfare
Aviva helps reduce social vulnerability through actions carried out by the Aviva Foundation. Created in 1999 under the aegis of the grant-making charity Fondation de France, the Aviva Foundation supports projects that help children and the elderly, according to criteria of proximity and sustainability. Since its creation, it has helped fund more than 230 projects and initiatives with a humanitarian, solidarity or prevention aspect. Within this framework, the Aviva Foundation supports the Autisme 49 association, which supports families faced with the daily reality of autism in the areas of schooling, the educational, professional and social integration of people with autism, as well as setting up specially-tailored services, recreational activities and structures. It also subsidises the Concorda Logis association, which works to reduce the isolation of the elderly and resolve housing problems faced by young people through shared accommodation schemes in Montpellier and Nîmes. Finally, for 10 years now, the Aviva Foundation has sponsored the literature prize for the children of the Mouvement pour les Villages d'Enfants. This is a long-term partnership that is very close to Aviva's heart, as the movement looks after children aged two to 17 years who have been separated from their parents, enabling them to rebuild their lives in a stable environment where they can be with their siblings, go to school, and take part in sporting and musical activities.
The company also raises its employees' awareness of responsible behaviour. As a result, an increasing number of employees are joining in events that the company takes part in, such as the Special Olympics Relay Race, or organises, such as the Aviva 24-Hour Relay in support of the French Telethon.
4 - Promote a responsible investment policy
In early 2008, the Aviva subsidiary, Aviva Investors, which is among the top 10 asset management companies in France, joined the Morley fund, European Socially Responsible. This fund is accessible to the clients and employees of Aviva France, through its main contracts.
Among the five employee savings funds available to its employees, Aviva also offers a socially responsible investment fund, comprised solely of companies that operate in line with criteria of social ethics, environmental protection, human development and economic sustainability.
5 - Develop operations within a responsible environmental and social framework
Mindful of the challenges associated with climate change, Aviva has made managing its impact on the environment a key element of its CSR strategy. Aviva is the first insurance group to have neutralised its CO2 emissions by financing six carbon offsetting projects. Since 2002, Aviva has reduced its worldwide carbon dioxide emissions by 54%. In France, this reduction rate is around 10% a year and the group contributes to the carbon offsetting drive with initiatives such as one e-mail = €1.
Aviva also raises the awareness of its employees by recommending the adoption of simply everyday actions: sorting rubbish at the workplace, collecting used batteries, using rough paper for printing unimportant documents.
Aviva also imposes stringent standards on its suppliers, which must sign a corporate social responsibility charter. In addition, when handling claims from its policyholders, Aviva guides them towards approved vehicle repair workshops that recover, sort and recycle industrial waste, and comply with the obligation in place since January 2008 of not using solvent-based paints.
Moreover, convinced that respecting differences and nurturing talent constitute a powerful competitive advantage, and that each member of the Group has a valuable contribution to make, in 2007, Aviva signed the Diversity Charter. This Charter established a policy that focuses on three main areas: disability, ethnic origin and gender.
A number of diversity-oriented initiatives have been implemented, such as the building of a new head office in Bois-Colombes which is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility and the appointment of an officer to recruit people with disabilities.
As a signatory of the Insurers' Sustainable Development Charter, Aviva welcomes the joint commitment of insurance companies to improve their overall approach to sustainable development and intends to continue its own efforts in this respect.
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Press contacts:
Isabelle Noir
Telephone: +33 (0)1 76 62 70 21
E-mail: isabelle_noir@aviva.fr
Anne Perthuis
Telephone: +33 (0) 1 47 04 19 49
E-mail: aperthuis@agencezap.com
Notes to editors:
About Aviva
With more than 300 years' experience, Aviva is a global insurer of European origin: it is the leading provider of life insurance and pension products in Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, particularly in North America and Asia, making it the world's fifth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2007. Aviva's principal business activities are life insurance and long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with total sales of €56.7 billion and €455 billion of assets under management at 30 June 2008.
With more than 180 years' experience in France, Aviva is among the top ten players in the insurance market. Aviva France operates a balanced multi-distribution model based on a comprehensive range of products, mainly intended for individuals and small and medium enterprises. Some 900 general agents, 1,800 branch staff, 400 life insurance advisers, almost 900 wealth management advisers (Union Financière de France) and more than 1,000 active partner brokers are at the service of 3 million clients every day.
Aviva has developed unique expertise in building effective partnerships for the benefit of its clients, particularly with AFER, the largest savings association in France, and the Crédit du Nord, Société Générale, Ford and Médéric groups. Specialising in unit-linked products, Aviva is recognised for the excellent performance of its long-term funds, the quality and innovation of its products, and solid commitment to its customers through its Good Advice approach.
Aviva France is a socially responsible company and has developed projects that include reducing and neutralising its CO2 emissions, supporting more than 250 projects to help children and the elderly through the Aviva Foundation, and implementing an acclaimed diversity policy.
The Aviva Group directly employs more than 4,700 staff in France. At 31 December 2007, Aviva France reported consolidated sales of €6.5 billion and an IFRS-based net profit of €338 million. The company managed assets worth €71.4 billion at 30 June 2008.