Aviva pledges to reduce plastic

Published: 05 Jun 2018

We are taking steps to reduce our use of single-use plastic items internationally.

Aviva has pledged to reduce the use of plastic internationally, in a bid to help tackle the growing issue of plastic waste.

Aviva colleagues pledge to cut plastic use

In the UK, where the company is the country’s largest insurer, Aviva has already committed to:

  • Remove all disposable cups from vending machines, water coolers and cafés in its UK offices by the end of 2018.
  • Eliminate single-use plastic at UK sites, including cafes and events, by the middle of 2019* 

Plastic waste is a problem which, quite literally, hasn’t gone away. Experts predict there will be more plastic than fish by weight in the world's oceans by 2050 if we don’t make changes now**.

This issue is crucial to our customers, our employees and the communities we serve. As an international business we have a responsibility to leave a different sort of legacy, so we are looking at the steps we can take worldwide to radically reduce our use of plastic.

Small changes can make a big difference and the pledges we have made demonstrate our commitment to this important cause.

Nick Amin Group Chief Operations and IT Officer, Aviva

The following initiatives to reduce plastic have been introduced across UK sites and will be rolled out across Aviva’s international locations throughout 2018:

Achievements:

  • Compostable cutlery – all sites have stopped ordering plastic cutlery and now use a compostable version
  • Plastic water bottles – plastic water bottles have been removed from hospitality and events in London, Norwich and York and replaced with re-useable glass alternatives.
  • Keep Cups - customers receive a discount for using a reusable cup in Aviva cafes eg a 20 pence discount per drink in the UK. 

Plans:

  • Hospitality plastic water bottles – to be removed from hospitality and events at all other sites (outside London, Norwich and York) and replaced with re-usable alternatives.
  • Café food packaging – alternatives being sought for salad containers and sandwiches.
  • Vending machines – single-use plastic items will be removed where market alternatives exist.
  • Suppliers – we are working with our suppliers to eliminate single-use plastics and encourage them to sign up to the WRAP UK Plastics Pact.

ENDS

Enquiries:

Sarah Poulter
Telephone: 01904 452828
Mobile: 07800 691569
Email: sarah.poulter@aviva.com

* Where alternatives exist in the market. There may be some instances, such as crisp packets, where single-use items contain a small proportion of plastic. Aviva will continue to review products available to ensure that single-use plastic can be eliminated wherever possible. 

** Source: The New Plastics Economy Rethinking the future of plastics - a report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in partnership with the World Economic Forum.

Notes to editors:

  • We are the UK's leading diversified insurer and we operate in the UK, Ireland and Canada. We also have international investments in India and China.
  • We help our 20.5 million (as at 31 December 2024) customers make the most out of life, plan for the future, and have the confidence that if things go wrong we'll be there to put it right.
  • We have been taking care of people for more than 325 years, in line with our purpose of being 'with you today, for a better tomorrow'. In 2024, we paid £29.3 billion in claims and benefits to our customers.
  • In 2021, we announced our ambition to become Net Zero by 2040, the first major insurance company in the world to do so. While we are working towards our sustainability ambitions, we recognise that while we have control over Aviva’s operations and influence over our supply chain, when it comes to decarbonising the economy in which we operate and invest, Aviva is one part of a far larger global system. Nevertheless, we remain focused on the task and are committed to playing our part in the collective effort to enable the global transition. Find out more about our climate goals at www.aviva.com/sustainability/climate and our sustainability ambition and action at www.aviva.com/sustainability.
  • Aviva is a Living Wage, Living Pension and Living Hours employer and provides market-leading benefits for our people, including flexible working, paid carers leave and equal parental leave. Find out more at https://www.aviva.com/about-us/our-people/
  • As at 31 December 2024, total Group assets under management at Aviva Group were £407 billion and our estimated Solvency II shareholder capital surplus as at 31 March 2025 was £7.6 billion. Our shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and we are a member of the FTSE 100 index.
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