| |
| |
 |
|
| |
 |
|
A
financial services company such as Old Mutual is not confronted
with quite the same environmental challenges as a manufacturing
or a mining company. However, in this report we concentrate
on such issues as the environment-friendliness of our buildings,
energy consumption, paper consumption — and our compliance
with health, safety and environmental legislation. |
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
| During
2002, Old Mutual plc adopted a group environmental policy. This
commits Old Mutual’s business units worldwide to applying
best practice in environmental management and sets the following
environmental objectives: |
 |
To
ensure compliance with all local, national and international
regulations applicable to our business services. |
|
To
minimise the consumption of energy, water and materials resources
and where practical, to re-use and recycle materials. |
|
To
minimise solid waste generation and promote waste re-use and
recycling wherever possible. |
|
To
avoid, where possible, the use of materials that may cause harm
to the environment. |
|
To
promote internal awareness of environmental issues with staff
and to provide appropriate training where necessary. |
|
To
support, through our community assistance programmes, the promotion
of environmental initiatives by employees and external groups. |
|
To
engage with key stakeholders to ensure our responsiveness to
the achievement of ongoing performance improvements. |
Old Mutual recognises that it has an impact on the environment, both
directly through the consumption of energy and other resources, and
indirectly through the supply chain. Our environmental strategy strives
to reduce the environmental impact of our operations, making environmental
considerations an integral part of daily business including management
planning, capital expenditure and operating procedures.
Responsibility for policy implementation and review has been assigned
to Julian Roberts, group finance director. Senior executives have
been appointed with accountability for environmental issues at each
of the Group’s main operations. They are required to ensure
that each business unit appoints a manager with day-to-day responsibility
for environmental matters. In South Africa, the responsible person
is human resources general manager, Nicky Bicket.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSOCIATIONS AND INDICES
Old Mutual plc has announced its intention to sign up to a number
of governmental and industry associations that will commit the Group
to compliance with relevant environmental codes.
These include MACC2 (Making a Corporate Commitment), a UK governmental
body requiring signatories to commit to reducing at least one of the
three main measures of resource efficiency:
greenhouse gas emissions, waste production and water use.
On international markets, several indices have been specifically developed
based on ethical, including environmental, criteria. These include
the London Stock Exchange’s FTSE4 Good Index of which Old Mutual
plc is already a member. In addition, Dow Jones has asked us to take
part in their Sustainability Index and we hope to be in a position
to join during 2003.
Most leading UK companies are expected to participate in the Business
in the Environment (BiE) Index, that provides objective reporting
on companies’ environmental impacts and is well regarded by
the UK investing community. Old Mutual will now take part annually,
with the relevant data available each November.
The ISO14001 standard deals with environmental management systems.
While it is the standard we aspire to, the Group is not formally compliant
at this stage.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
OMSA subscribes to the Group Environmental Policy and, as such, complies
with all applicable legislation.
The Old Mutual Green project at our Mutualpark headquarters continues
to benefit from the results of a study by the Council for Scientific
and Industrial Research (CSIR) into energy and waste management, water
efficiency, and the indoor environment.
During 2002, we continued to recycle paper at the rate of 30 tons
a month. Energy consumption averaged 4GWh a month, which equates to
around R800 000 per month. Consumption levels remained constant compared
with the previous year.
We continue to look for energy efficiency opportunities and have embarked
on a number of related projects. For example, any remaining incandescent
lamps are replaced on failure with energy efficient alternatives.
A waste recycling operation in conjunction with Enviroserve has been
researched for implementation in January 2003. In terms of water consumption,
we use an average 12 mega litres a month. A number of check metres
have been installed to help identify conservation opportunities.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
ENVIRONMENTAL
SPONSORSHIPS
Amongst the factors contributing to South Africa’s growing success
as an international tourism destination is its “ecotourism”
status. This success has brought significant financial benefit to
the country, not least in the creation of jobs.
| It’s
vital that we take proper care of our natural heritage and Old
Mutual strives to help spread this message through sponsorship
funding for mainly educational projects: |
|
World
Environment Day. In partnership with the Botanical Society of
South Africa, theme posters and workbooks on South Africa’s
bio-diversity were distributed to school children around the
country. |
|
The
Old Mutual Environmental Education Centre at the Two Oceans
Aquarium in Cape Town. |
|
OMSA
Managing Director, Roddy Sparks, serves on the council of the
World Wildlife Fund (WWF). We are a founding member of the global
environmental agency and have enjoyed strong links with the
WWF for more than 30 years. |
|
Old
Mutual continued to sponsor the South African exhibit at the
prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in London. Last year’s
event saw the South African team celebrate their 25th gold medal.
The exhibit, titled African Mosaic, incorporated extensive use
of cycads, making for an impressive display of South Africa’s
floral diversity. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
