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Zurich Financial Services

Organisational challenge/context

Zurich Financial Services is an insurance-based financial services company providing investment, protection, insurance and pensions. It employs 57,000 staff in more than 50 countries.

In 2002, it signed-up to the Government’s programme “Making a Corporate Commitment” (MACC2) and declared targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to cost savings and increased productivity, Zurich’s desire to change staff travel patterns was driven by recruitment and retention and its emissions commitments made through the MACC2 programme. Zurich committed to implement travel plans for 40% of its UK employees.

Sustainable travel intervention(s)

• Staff travel surveys were conducted. Employees were incentivised to participate through a prize draw and to raise staff awareness, boards were placed at each site to explain the role of the travel plans. By seeking employee opinions, Zurich was able to secure their involvement at an early stage
• The company now runs free shuttles to local railway stations and as an incentive for staff to use buses, has offered a discounted Travel Pass Scheme
• A car sharing database was also created and car sharers are allowed to park for free directly in front of the office in spaces normally reserved for Directors
• Zurich has already upgraded its cycle racks, lockers, showers and changing facilities and is in negotiations with the local council for better cycling routes. In addition, video conferencing and flexible employment packages have significantly reduced travel.

Results/benefits

• In the first two and a half years, Zurich has made significant progress in reducing the number of staff travelling alone by car. In 2003, an online survey showed that in one year 23% of its workforce had moved from solitary car use to an alternative mode of transport
• At its Cheltenham site, the proportion of staff arriving alone by car has fallen by over 10% while bus use, car sharing, walking and motorcycle use have all increased
• The use of audio and video conferencing has reduced business mileage by over a million miles, with fuel cost savings of £122,000 and an extra 17,000 working hours being created.

Company Description
Zurich Financial Services is a major financial services group based in Zürich, Switzerland providing Insurance and Risk Management, specialising in both Life and General Insurance

Website
www.zurich.com

Case Study
View case study