Environmental responsibility

In 2007 Hannover Re joined forces with other companies and organisations in the city of Hannover and Greater Hannover region to participate in the “Ecological Project for Integrated Environmental Technology” (Ecoprofit). The basic idea underlying this project is to combine economic profit with ecological benefit through preventive environmental protection. The energy-saving successes already achieved by our company are regularly publicised in the relevant project publications. In the year under review we were once again a recognised Ecoprofit operation.

In addition, as part of the “Climate Alliance Hannover 2020”, we play our part in efforts to accomplish the state capital's goal of cutting climate-threatening greenhouse gas emissions to levels 40% lower than in 1990 by the year 2020. Our specific contributions will be regularly checked every two years from 2011 onwards.

In the year under review we cut the power consumption of our computer centre and approved a videoconferencing concept that – once implemented in 2010 – is intended to reduce the carbon emissions caused by staff travelling on business trips.

Since 2008 we have compensated for the CO₂ pollution caused by business flights through voluntary offsetting payments to the international organisation “atmosfair”, thereby supporting selected climate protection projects in developing and emerging countries. We pay similar voluntary offsets for train travel too.

We have purchased RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) from our electricity supplier to promote the use of renewable forms of energy.

Within the German Insurance Association (GDV) we are participating in a working group to develop a method of CO₂ accounting for insurance undertakings.

Hannover Re reviews other activities that contribute to the conservation and sustainable preservation of resources within the scope of regular Business Excellence assessments.

The CO2 pollution of 9,000 tonnes caused in 2009 (calculated for the Hannover Home Office location) was 98 % offset. All in all, we reduced and offset 833 tonnes of carbon emissions relative to the previous year.

For a number of years Hannover Re has participated in the survey conducted as part of the “Carbon Disclosure Project” (CDP). The CDP serves to gather and publish qualitative data on the subject of climate change in order to motivate investors, businesses and countries to contribute actively to climate protection. Through our involvement we receive information on where we stand with our efforts to economise – especially as regards carbon emissions – relative to international standards. Regular participation in the study supports our ongoing process of internally reviewing the steps we have taken to cut back.

Hannover Re's commitment to climate protection is rounded off with our attendance at a number of conferences, including the one organised as part of the “Climate and Insurance” initiative.