Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the heart of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. Swiss Life is transparent about which of these goals it is particularly contributing to.
In this report, Swiss Life focuses on the sustainable development goals where the company is currently having the biggest impact through its business activities, investments and social engagement. Swiss Life is thus restricting itself here to nine of the 17 SDGs.
SDG (target)
Our contribution
Swiss Life is committed to raising society’s awareness of the issues of healthcare and protection against financial risks and to actively addressing the attendant challenges. Swiss Life supports its customers in making all the necessary preparations early so that they can lead a self-determined life even in the event of illness. Swiss Life supports its employees, for example, by offering them flexible working models and a wide range of health and prevention services.
More on this in the sections “Insurance”, “Health and Safety” and “Corporate Citizenship”.
Swiss Life supports its employees in maintaining their employability and promotes their ongoing development. This includes continuous internal and external courses for employees of all ages, training for apprentices and trainees, and entry-level opportunities for university graduates.
In addition, Swiss Life uses its own foundations to support institutions that help people from a wide range of backgrounds educate and better themselves.
More on this in the sections on “Employee Development” and “Corporate Citizenship”.
In keeping with current national and international law, as well as the conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Swiss Life applies fair employment procedures that are free of discrimination with the aim of guaranteeing and promoting equal opportunities.
Fair and equal compensation for all employees is ensured by the Group Compensation Policy, which is applicable throughout the Group. For a number of years, Swiss Life has had processes and instruments for removing the gender-specific salary gap at all its national companies.
More on this in the “Collaboration and Diversity” section.
Swiss Life specifically uses some of its investments to support climate-friendly technologies, projects and initiatives. In this context, Swiss Life has set itself the goal of investing CHF 2 billion in green bonds1 by 2023.
The Swiss Life Group also includes a leading investment manager for clean energy and infrastructure funds in Switzerland. These infrastructure portfolios are focused on thermal, water, solar and wind power.
Swiss Life supplies its own office locations with electricity from renewable energy sources. In addition, it aims to continuously increase energy efficiency.
More in the sections “Sustainability as an Asset Owner and Manager” and “Climate Protection and Operational Ecology”.
Swiss Life makes a major contribution to the economy and society, both as a provider of products and services and as an employer, taxpayer and investor. In addition, it cultivates a fair employee-employer relationship that is governed by social partnerships and collective and works agreements.
More on this in the section “Social Partnership”.
Swiss Life invests through its own funds in the renewal of infrastructure and the development of innovative real estate projects.
Furthermore, Swiss Life strengthens innovations along the entire value chain. The focus is on measures that create sustainable added value for customers and employees.
More on this in the section “Sustainability as an Asset Owner and Manager”.
Swiss Life is one of Europe’s leading real estate investors and has the biggest private real estate portfolio in Switzerland. The majority of its properties are in urban areas. As a builder, property owner and asset manager, Swiss Life aims to use ecological and economic resources with maximum efficiency and to make an active contribution to sustainable urban development.
More on this in the “Real Estate Management” section.
As a construction industry client and in its own operations, Swiss Life supports the sparing use of resources. Swiss Life publishes annual figures on waste and paper consumption as well as the other key indicators for operational ecology. Furthermore, Swiss Life uses Group-wide targets to ensure that the company can make further progress in the realm of operational ecology.
When selecting suppliers and service providers, Swiss Life works with local contractors whenever possible and gives preference to products and services from companies that have implemented a certified environmental protection system.
More on this in the sections “Real Estate Management”, “Procurement” and “Climate Protection and Operational Ecology”.
Swiss Life makes an active contribution to climate protection by reducing CO2 emissions and has set itself Group-wide targets for this purpose. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its own operations, Swiss Life systematically integrates environmental aspects into asset management and real estate management.
Following the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Swiss Life publishes a report which, among other things, shows the opportunities and risks associated with climate change.
More in the sections “Sustainability as an Asset Owner and Manager” and “Climate Protection and Operational Ecology”.
1 Green, social, sustainable bonds