Insurer has teamed up with environmental charity to audit its waste output

Allianz Insurance has launched the next stage of its initiative to encourage staff to reduce the environmental impact of the company.

The Environmental Champions programme aims to improve the energy-saving and recycling habits of employees. Phase two of the programme was launched to coincide with Valentines Day with an ‘I love my planet’ awareness campaign at the company’s head office in Guildford.

The campaign includes a ‘switch off’ electricity initiative, the introduction of more recycling bins and the removal of individual waste paper bins. There will also be an on-going knowledge sharing programme aimed at spreading good environmental practice within the office.

The programme has set itself the following targets:

• 5% reduction in electricity use

• 25% reduction in the use of paper

• 50% reduction in waste going to land fill

Allianz teamed up with environmental charity Global Action Plan (GAP) to audit the company’s energy and waste outputs.

GAP worked with Allianz volunteers, dubbed ‘environmental champions’, to check waste bins and the use of office lights throughout the day. Their findings, along with information gathered via an online staff survey, formed part of an assessment of the energy saving and recycling potential of employees.

Mike Delany, Allianz spokesman, said: "Global Action Plan has used the information from the audits to put together a strategy to reduce our environmental impact. The agreed measures will be rolled out throughout the year and the results will be measured so that the company can see what progress it’s making."