At AXA Middle East, we cannot disregard the world and the circumstances we live in. Therefore, acting responsibly and authentically results in a high social and environmental impact, as well as the ability to influence the people around us.
“Corporate Responsibility” is the contribution of businesses to sustainable economic development and to the interests of society by taking responsibility for the direct and indirect impact of their activities on various stakeholders, including: customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment. The “responsible corporation” lies at the crossroads between social development, respect for the environment and economic performance.
With the twin concepts of sustainable development and Corporate Responsibility, society recognizes the essential role of businesses in its own development and expects this economic enabler to be leveraged today for the benefit of future generations as well.
Why does AXA believe sustainability and Corporate Responsibility warrant strategic attention?
- It is our inherent responsibility: as one of the world’s largest corporations, we have a role as an international corporate citizen; and as a company whose business is to protect people over the long term, we have a responsibility to help build a more sustainable society.
- It is essential to build the trust of employees (CR is a key driver of employee motivation and engagement, and influences graduates’ choice of employers), and the trust of customers, as CR is an increasingly significant driver of brand trust.
- It is a risk/opportunity management imperative: CR enables AXA to cut costs and to limit certain business and operational risks, while maximising market opportunities in emerging or future commercial segments to generate new revenue streams.
AXA’s strategy is to place Corporate Responsibility both at the heart of its business as well as its day to day interactions with its stakeholders. It is through adopting a responsible behaviour, as well as through sustainability added-value products and services, that the Group is able to most effectively participate in social, environmental and economic progress.
AXA’s 2020 Better Lives Partnership
Given the AXA Group’s newly defined purpose to empower people to live better lives, delivering on sustainability and responsibility issues is even more critical. AXA has defined a 5 year sustainability plan to deliver true impact in terms of better lives.
Three global transformation programs will help AXA partner in innovative ways and co-create with civil society in the realms of strategy, product, and service development. This internal transformation will be accompanied by concrete external commitments to partner for better lives by positively impacting 3 areas: the environment, society at large, and the individual lives of our customers.
The Environment – By 2020, we will reduce our own footprint and will leverage our core business of insurance and investment to help the world better face climate risk.
- -25 % CO2 emissions vs. 2012
- 3x green investments vs. 2015
- 2x increase in renewable energy premiums vs. 2013
- +45M€ in parametric insurance premiums vs. 2015
Society – By 2020, we will be more inclusive as a company and will find inclusive ways to extend protection and risk knowledge to those who do not have it.
- 200K lives protected through global NGO partnerships
- €100M invested in support of academic research on risk by 2018
- 45M emerging customers served
- 33% women in senior leadership roles
- €350M invested in impact investing by 2020
Individual Lives – By 2020, we will be a trusted partner for our customers and will empower people to achieve positive health and safety outcomes while using their data responsibly.
- 10x increase in active users of mobile prevention applications
- Help clients become 50,000* years younger through wellbeing programs
- 100% of AXA companies above average in terms of Net Promoter Score benchmark
*As measured by AXA PPP’s Health Age algorithm
Two global partnerships for better lives
Each pillar of our Better Lives plan is supported through a dedicated partnership with a civil society actor:
1. Partnering with cities: UN Habitat around resilient cities
- Help the world better face climate risks through a partnership to promote risk-resistant building techniques in countries vulnerable to natural disasters.
2. Partnering in Africa: CARE around women’s financial education
- Extend protection and risk knowledge to those who do not have it by renewing AXA’s collaboration with CARE for another 3 years.
We believe that only by working together in partnership with society can we help to build better lives.
AXA’s CR strategy rests on the six following pillars
Employees
Responsibility in our workplace
AXA strives to be a responsible employer, placing employee engagement at the heart of its business strategy. Achieving this means creating a workplace built on AXA’s Values that fosters diversity and equal opportunities for all, promotes employee participation, encourages professional development, and supports employee well-being.
Customers and products
Responsibility in customer relations and in our products
AXA promotes responsible customer relations through clear and transparent communication and marketing of our products, and by managing the claims process responsibly. We offer insurance, savings and investment products and services which also encourage and reward environmentally responsible behaviors, as well as help reduce social exclusion.
Shareholders and ESG Risk Management
Responsibility in our Governance model
AXA’s responsibility towards our shareholders includes ensuring the long-term viability of the company through sound and transparent corporate governance and a culture of business ethics, supported by AXA’s Standards and Code of Ethics. Acknowledging the impact our business has on society at large, we also strive to integrate social and environmental issues into our governance, risk management processes, and investment strategy.
Suppliers
Responsibility in supplier selection and relations
As a financial services company, many of our impacts on society are linked not to our own “production” processes, but to our choice of suppliers, from purchasing paper to contracting service providers for insurance claims. In making these choices, we integrate social and environmental criteria in the selection and management of our suppliers.
Environment
Responsibility for our environmental footprint
AXA is committed to reducing its direct impact on the environment by actively managing our waste, emissions, and our consumption of natural resources. We are also aware of the role we can play in promoting environmental awareness amongst our stakeholders, contributing to improve the understanding of global environmental risks, and committing to support the fight against climate change and other environmental protection efforts.
Community
Responsibility towards civil society
As a responsible corporate citizen, AXA strives to play a positive role in society, by building a culture that promotes employee volunteering, and through corporate giving to support the communities in which we operate. We are also committed to sharing our business expertise by helping to build better understanding of the risks faced by individuals and society at large.