Direct environmental impact

BEST PRACTICE

Minimizing the adverse environmental impact is one of the areas of the Pekao Group’s binding Code of Conduct and Alior Bank’s Code of Ethics. In these documents the entities declare they will protect natural resources and prevent pollution. Employees will find information in these documents to encourage them to care for the natural environment. 

BEST PRACTICE

Installation of air conditioning devices using a new, environmentally friendly refrigerant R32

In 2018, the Real Estate Department began the purchase and installation of the first split air conditioners with the power input of up to 5 kW with the refrigerant R32 – predominantly in technical rooms such as server rooms where continuous operation of cooling equipment is required. The installation was performed to satisfy the current needs related to replacement of damaged devices with new ones and delivery to newly created rooms. By the end of 2018, 36 split air conditioners were installed. In 2019, 32 air conditioners with the refrigerant R32 were installed. In 2020, old air conditioners are scheduled to be replaced with new ones fitted with the refrigerant R32 in other PZU and PZU Życie facilities. The refrigerant R32 has a lower (675) GWP (greenhouse effect potential) compared to the most commonly used R410A (GWP of 2088). Thanks to the new technology, the volume of the refrigerants in the devices may be reduced significantly (by approx. 30%), thereby curtailing the potential emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Electrical energy saving (PZU and PZU Życie)

• the installation of special equipment, power compensating devices, makes it possible in some properties to reduce the consumption of reactive power by roughly 90%. In 2019, a total of eight power compensating devices were installed;
• decrease in the contracted electrical power in buildings that have been totally or partially abandoned. This will reduce the energy consumption necessary to generate electricity by generators (power plants). In 2018, the contracted power was reduced in 21 properties. As a result of an analysis carried out in 2019, the contracted power in nine (vacant) properties was reduced;
• verification of temperature settings and programming air conditioning units installed in server rooms;
• installation of LED lighting. In 2019, LED lighting was replaced in a total of 12 branches: back office areas in 9 branches, front office areas in 2 branches and restrooms in 1 branch;
• pilot installation of photovoltaic cells on the roofs of office buildings belonging to PZU and PZU Życie. By the end of 2018, photovoltaic panels were installed on four properties which became connected to the energy system in December 2019. The use of electricity generated from the sun reduces the emission of exhaust gases into the atmosphere, thereby improving environmental impact. In 2019, photovoltaic panels were installed on eight more properties – their connection to the electricity distribution grid is in progress;
• “Green energy” for 2020 – purchase of RES electricity guarantees that 100% of purchased electricity will be generated from renewable sources. PZU and PZU Życie, as consumers, will receive a certificate from the electricity supplier confirming that the purchased electricity has been generated from renewable sources. 

Heat savings (PZU and PZU Życie)

• thermal modernization of buildings: insulating walls and roofs, replacement of window joinery and central heating installation. In 2019, 13 properties were thermally modernized. The work will be continued in 2020;
• the replacement of depleted heating boilers with modern and highly efficient devices with an option to adjust their operation to atmospheric conditions (weather controllers). Modern boilers produce heat while at the same time they save thermal and electrical energy and reduce the emissions of gases into the atmosphere. In 2019, new boilers were installed in 14 buildings. The process will be continued in 2020.

Reduced consumption of plastics

The Group companies are gradually moving away from the consumption of potable water supplied to PZU branches in 1 gallon plastic bottles towards dispensers connected to the municipal water supply system. An agreement was signed for the lease of 460 water dispensers connected to the municipal network. Both in office spaces and in client service outlets, these dispensers were welcome by employees. In 2020, a tender will be held for the lease of more (approx. 740) dispensers connected to the municipal network (in PZU and PZU Życie).

The contract for the other dispensers currently maintained by EDEN (1 gallon plastic bottles) will expire in June 2021. After the exchange process is completed in 2022, there will be no more 1 gallon plastic bottles in PZU.

Furthermore, since 1 October 2019, during meetings held in the Konstruktorska Business Center and the Tower, water for meetings served by an external catering company has come in reusable glass decanters, and in the PZU Tower paper cups were introduced in place of plastic cups in common areas.

Planned reduction in the number of water dispensers and 1 gallon bottles

Properties “Turning Green”

In order to achieve a significant reduction in the consumption of water, faucet aerators are being installed in restrooms and employee amenity areas. Faucet aerators (tips attached to the end of a faucet) visually increase the stream of water by mixing it with air, which process results in a reduced consumption of water. In 2018, faucets in the head office buildings and in office buildings with more than 10 users were fitted with faucet aerators. In total, over 1,000 such devices were installed. In 2019, additional 1,296 faucet aerators were installed. The installation of aerators will also be continued in 2020. In 2019, water coNsumption in PZU and PZU Życie decreased by a total of 1,033 m3. 

In the Sales Support Department of PZU’s Ukrainian company, electronic document circulation has been implemented with the use of electronic digital signatures for service provision reports issued by insurance intermediaries. Because the process of handling service provision reports has not yet been fully covered by the electronic document circulation system, the final results will be presented in 2020.

In turn, in PZU Ukraine’s Insurance Products Department introduced the DMS e-policy at DTP on 1 July 2019. This has eliminated the need to print insurance agreements (in duplicate) and reduces the costs of logistics and storage of paper documents.

Reduced consumption of paper

• in 2019, paper consumption in PZU and PZU Życie was reduced by 900 kg. In November 2019, a cooperation agreement was signed with three suppliers holding a FSC or PEFC certificate. As a result, only certified paper will be used for the printing of insurance forms. All high-volume printed forms are made on certified paper. In PZU, from November to the end of 2019, 38% of printed forms made on certified paper were delivered. In PZU Życie, 81% of printed forms made on such paper were delivered in the same period;
• no need to print train tickets – availability of QR codes on tickets purchased through a business travel agency.

Environmentally friendly initiatives in 2019

Water Day: 22 March

“We cannot afford to waste water” was the year’s Water Day slogan.

In 2019, the Administration Department was the main initiator, organizer and sponsor of awards for the Water Day, celebrated on 22 March. From March 18, an informational and educational campaign for employees was run on PZU24. Catchy slogans and information on the new form of water distribution were prepared. Interesting facts related to environmental protection were presented throughout the week and a quiz and environmental workshops for employees were organized during which food packaging methods alternative to aluminum foil and plastic foil were demonstrated, such as packaging based on recycled materials, allowing the user to save resources, including water, and removing the need for disposable packaging materials.

Earth Hour: 30 March

At 8:30 p.m., all lights were switched off for 60 minutes in selected buildings of the PZU Group (Tower, Opole – Ozimska, Gdańsk – Targ Drzewny, Łódź – Zamenhofa, Dąbrowa Górnicza – Królowej Jadwigi).

Earth Day – 22 April

• “Let us clean up the Zemborzycki Lagoon in Lublin” – a volunteering campaign executed by employees of the Real Estate Department from Lublin, 6th and 21st High School students and preschoolers with the support of the PZU Foundation. Under the campaign, the lagoon was cleaned up, signs encouraging visitors to protect the environment were prepared and classes on environmental protection were given in schools;
• “Cleaning the Culture Park in Powsin” – a volunteering campaign executed by employees of the Real Estate Department from Warsaw with the support of the PZU Foundation. 50 employees collected garbage in the Powsin park;
• April 24 – a green newsletter with a quiz was created. The prize consisted of a book by Katarzyna Wągrowska entitled “Zero waste life”, water filter bottles and bags – sponsored by the Real Estate Department.

Bottom-up environmental initiatives of PZU employees as part of PZU’s employee volunteerism program

• “Let us clean the rivers of Lublin” – a campaign organized by employees of the Real Estate Department from Lublin and volunteers.
• “Renewing the greenery areas around Preschool No. 4 in Pabianice” – an initiative of employees of the Real Estate Department from Łódź carried out with the support of the PZU Foundation.
• “Help for flood victims in Wierzchowiska” – a campaign to collect donations for flood victims, provision of support in dredging ditches.
• “Let us clean up the Bieszczady Mountains” – employees of the Real Estate Department together with their families collected garbage left on mountain trails in the Sine Wiry Nature Reserve and in Połonina Wetlińska of the Bieszczady National Park.
• Campaign in a shelter for homeless animals in Lublin – the campaign was launched in a school and preschool where children learned interesting facts about animals during classes. The children made scratchers and houses for cats, using recycled materials. The campaign was accompanied by a collection of gifts for the shelter. The animals received blankets, mattresses, towels, bedding, hygiene products and cleaning supplies. The shelter also received wet and dry feed as well as special food for reptiles. Necessary equipment was purchased using funds obtained from a PZU Foundation grant.

• “Green Alley” - staff of the Employee Operations Center in Piła executed a volunteerism project called “Green Alley”. The objective of the project was to plant trees in the Zdrojowa Góra Forest District and clean up the forest. 50 persons participated in the project. In order not to pollute the environment and promote a healthy lifestyle, the participants chose bicycles as their means of transport to cover the 24 km route. Along the bike lane, they planted 51 young linden trees. In the forests adjacent to the bike lane, they collected around 40 bags of garbage!
• As part of the “Zero waste in wellingtons, or when more means less” project, PZU volunteers from Mysłowice created a cheerful vegetable asylum in the middle of the city, on the grounds of Primary School No. 3. They also conducted classes on healthy eating, multiple usage of things and a sparing and attentive approach to life. They passed on the idea of zero waste to both younger and older participants. Booklets were created about responsibility for oneself and others. Workshops in the schoolyard were also held during which the participants planted greenery, followed by a celebration presenting a summary of all project activities. 

Environmental education of employees through campaigns promoting environmentally friendly behaviors

In 2019, the following educational campaigns were continued:

• activities encouraging employees to save paper by reducing the number of printouts, including by marking multi-purpose devices with environmental stickers;
• collection of unused but operational office equipment:
• photo cameras and camcorders,
• projectors,
• voice recorders,
• IP phones,
• mobile phones;
• promotion of economical eco-driving;
• promoting education related to World Earth Day and World Water Day.  

Reduced use of printers

As a result of analyses and arrangements with users, the number of printers/multi-purpose devices in PZU entities was reduced by 150. Accordingly, the number of printers in use declined from 4,750 at the end of 2018 to approximately 4,600 at the end of 2019 (in PZU and PZU Życie).

All new printing devices are equipped with an automatic two-sided printing (duplex) module – wherever the specific nature of work permits two-sided printing, it is set as the default printing option.

Foreign companies

The PZU Group is concerned about the natural environment not only in Poland. An environmentally friendly approach to doing business has been adopted by all foreign members of the Group.

In Lithuania, Lietuvos Draudimas has in place a formalized environmental policy. Information on environmental protection matters is published in its annual reports and CSR reports. All buildings of the Lithuanian company are monitored for the consumption of utilities, waste sorting has been introduced and in order to gradually reduce CO2 emissions, the car fleet is supplemented with hybrid cars. Environmental educational campaigns are also conducted.

PZU’s Lithuanian company Lietuva Gyvybes Draudimas has identified directions and initiatives addressing environmental challenges in its CSR strategy, approved in 2019. The company monitors its consumption of utilities – in 2019, its consumption of water declined (by 5%) as did the consumption of electricity and heating (by 20%). The company strives to reduce pollution caused by its car fleet. A hybrid vehicle has been purchased. The purchase of another one is planned in 2020. The educational campaign on waste sorting is continued.

The Latvian company Balta has installed economical lighting and sunblinds. The company intends to reduce its consumption of utilities, water and electricity and is also involved in the recycling of old electronics and paper sorting. The management board is working on the adoption of an environmental policy.

The Estonian branch of Lietuvos Draudimas reduced its water and electricity consumption by 1%. Moreover, the lighting system in the head office building in Tallinn has been changed to LED lighting.