Green offices: energy, use of resources and waste
The largest part of the energy we use is electricity, which is needed for lighting, air conditioning and the power supply of computer and communication devices.
In particular, the servers of our Data Processing Centres (DPCs), the largest of which is located in Italy in Mogliano Veneto serving the entire Group, have a high electricity demand. In order to optimize the energy consumption of this DPC we have built a trigeneration plant powered by natural gas, which allows the joint production of electricity, heat and refrigeration.
We mainly use natural gas and district heating to heat our workplaces.
The Group strategy to reduce the environmental impact of our energy requirements involves:
- reduction of consumption through measures to modernize our premises, aimed at improving insulation with building envelopes and high-performance windows and doors, and through the use of high-energy efficiency lighting and air conditioning technologies such as, for example, presence detectors, timers for switching systems on/off and the use of LED lamps.
- preference for the use of energy from renewable sources: in 2020 we maintained green electric energy equal to 99% out of total electricity purchases, considering the scope reached by our environmental management system.
In June 2021 the Group has approved the new target to purchase 100% of electricity from renewable sources by 2025, where available.
| 2020 TARGET | PERFORMANCE IN 2020 |
|---|---|
|
Reduction of at least 25% of energy consumption |
|
| Purchase more than 90% of electricity from renewable sources | 99% |
*The comparability of per capita environmental performance related to 2020 is limited: in 2019 a refinement of the calculation methodology has allowed a more precise analysis of the number of personnel employed in Legal Entities included in the Environmental Management System, which includes in 2020 about 60 offices and over 350 local agencies, where 45% of Group personnel work.
Breakdown of energy consuption |
|
|---|---|
| Electrical Energy | 55% |
| District heating & cooling | 26% |
| Natural Gas | 8% |
| Trigeneration | 10% |
| Diesel oil | 1% |
Paper is one of the main natural resources used in our industry. Widespread measures to reduce paper consumption include the electronic storage and the digitalisation of documents, the installation of centralised printers for offices or floors in place of individual printers, and the digitalisation of the insurance product sales process using tablets and graphometric signatures.
We favour the purchase of paper with environmental certification according to sustainability standards such as Ecolabel, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), PEFC (Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes), Nordic Swan and Blue Angel.
To reduce the environmental impact of our print-outs, we also use toners regenerated or produced with recycled materials.
2020 TARGET
Reduction of 15% of paper consumption
Purchase for 95% of paper with environmental certification
PERFORMANCE IN 2020
2,933 q paper used
-62% compared to 2013
81% certified paper purchased
We use water mainly for sanitation purposes and in air conditioning systems. Almost all the water withdrawal comes from public aqueducts.
To reduce water waste to a minimum, the taps in our sites mix water and air and, in many cases, they are also equipped with photocells or timed controls.
PERFORMANCE MONITORED IN 2020
Quantity of withdrawn water
Water withdrawal per capita
369,954 m3
-32% compared to 2013
11.2 m3 per capita
-28% compared to 2013
We are investing in the reduction of single-use materials to prevent waste production and we are committed to recovering them through circular economy supply chains.
Paper and cardboard account for the majority of the waste we send for recovery through recycling. We also use this method to collect plastic, glass, aluminium and other metals, wood and food waste.
We pay particular attention to the proper disposal of harmful waste or waste that damages the environment. This mainly consists of electronic devices, returned to their suppliers or specialized operators, and used toners, which are also returned to suppliers to be recycled or regenerated.
Hazardous waste, such as neon lamps, batteries and sanitary waste from our company infirmaries, accounts for only a minimal percentage of our waste and is disposed of separately in an appropriate manner, using specialized companies and taking care to maintain records and mandatory documentation, in accordance with relevant regulations in each country.
PERFORMANCE MONITORED IN 2020
Quantity of waste collected
Share of waste taken for recycling through separate waste collection
Share of waste disposed of through energy recovery or landfill
30,439 q
83.6%
16.4%