SDG (target)

Our contribution

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.

Here we have the following sub-objectives:

4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and high-quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university education, by 2030.

4.4: Increase, by 2030, the number of young people and adults with the relevant qualifications – including technical and professional qualifications – for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

4.5: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and training for the vulnerable, including people with disabilities and children in vulnerable situations.

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 in place at all its national companies for closing the gender-specific salary gap.

Here we have the following sub-objectives:

5.5: Ensure effective participation and equal opportunity for women in leadership roles at all levels of decision-making in the political, business and public spheres.

5.a: Ensure – in keeping with national legislation – that women have equal access to economic resources, to the ownership and control of land and to other assets, financial services, inheritance and natural resources.

5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technologies, in particular information and communication technologies, to promote women’s self-determination.

More on this in the section “Diversity and Inclusion”.

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.

Here we have the following sub-objectives:

7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services by 2030.

7.2: Significantly increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030.

More on this in the sections “Sustainability as an Asset Owner and Manager” and “Climate Change Mitigation 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.

Here we have the following sub-objectives:

8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, the creation of decent jobs, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and foster the formalisation and growth of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.

8.5: Ensure decent work for all women and men, including young people and people with disabilities, as well as equal pay for work of equal value, by 2030.

8.10: Strengthen the capacity of national financial institutions to promote and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all.

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.

Here we have the following sub-objectives:

9.1: Build high-quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure – both regional and cross-border – to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on equal and affordable access for all.

9.4: By 2030, modernise infrastructure and upgrade industries to make them sustainable, with more efficient use of resources and increased use of clean and environmentally friendly technologies and industrial processes, and with all countries taking action according to their respective capacities.

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.

Here we have the following sub-objectives:

11.3: Make urbanisation more inclusive and sustainable by 2030 and strengthen capacities for participatory, integrated and sustainable urban planning and management in all countries.

11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas through enhanced national and regional development planning.

More on this in the section “Real Estate Management”.

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 metrics 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.

Here we have the following sub-objectives:

12.5.: Significantly reduce waste generation by 2030 through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to implement sustainable practices and include sustainability information in their reporting.

More on this in the sections “Real Estate Management”, “Procurement” and “Climate Change Mitigation and Operational Ecology”.

Swiss Life makes an active contribution to climate change mitigation 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 mitigation.

It focuses on the following sub-objectives in particular:

13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptability to climate-induced hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

13.2: Integrate climate change mitigation measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

13.3: Improve education and awareness-raising as well as human and institutional capacities in the area of climate change mitigation, adaptation, reduction of climate impacts and early warning.

More on this in the sections “Sustainability as an Asset Owner and Manager” and “Climate Change Mitigation and Operational Ecology”.