Our environmental policy

A group-wide framework was adopted in 2002 with the objectives of:

• Ensuring we comply with all environmentally related legislation relevant to our business.
• Limiting as far as possible our consumption of natural resources.
• Ensuring we promote and practice effective recycling.
• Highlighting and avoiding harmful materials in our business activities.
• Promoting environmental awareness among staff members and external stakeholders.
• Supporting community activities that promote environmental protection and its awareness.

Protecting our environment

A brief was given to Environmental Resource Management (ERM) in 2004 to audit the potential environmental impact of Old Mutual's Pinelands headquarters, and the practices and impacts of Old Mutual Properties for the 2003 year. It was reasoned then that the two formed by far the largest potential for environmental impact within the Group. For instance, ERM found that the audit of Old Mutual Properties implied an audit of environmental practices that affected a portfolio of 260 properties of approximately 2.5 million square metres.

The complete findings of ERM are contained in the 2003 Corporate Citizenship Report that is available online at http://www.oldmutual.com, or from Mark Peach, Chief Transformation Officer on 021 509 3652.

The findings of the 2003 ERM report remain substantially the same for this period under review.

The basic findings of the ERM report are that:

• The company uses resources made available from the local municipalities and from energy utility companies, except in emergencies where a back-up generator provides power, and boreholes that have recently been sunk to save dam-held water during the current drought.
• The vast bulk of the Old Mutual property portfolio is situated in urban or built-up areas.
• Emissions are not significant because none of Old Mutual's activities or facilities emit excessive chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs); the only sources of emissions are air conditioners and the back-up diesel generators; Mutualpark, the main office facility in the group has invested in a recovery plant that recycles 100% of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
• The company is not the source of any significant spills or harmful discharges.
• Old Mutual is principally involved in administrative activities and has limited direct impact on the environment other than the consumption of paper, energy, fuel, beverages, and food.

Other findings were:

• More than 80% of the waste paper generated by the company is recycled.
• The use of certain harmful materials and substances are specifically excluded from all of Old Mutual's activity and usage including: Halon 1301 fire protection installation; the use of CFCs; asbestos; foam products; solvent-based paints; and polychlorinated biphenyls.