It’s Up to Us
At Zurich North America, taking sustainability seriously is essential for its customers—and it’s even more important to the future of our children and the planet.
A set of two rectangular glass boxes topped by a cantilevered third is a dazzling sight that draws the attention of thousands of people who drive by it every day on Interstate 90 as the highway passes through Schaumburg, a suburb outside of Chicago.
The building is home to Zurich North America, and while the company is proud of its new headquarters’ curb appeal, it’s even more proud of its Platinum LEED certification, the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest rating for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of green buildings. The five-year-old award-winning structure is a clear testament to Zurich’s environmental stewardship, but that is just one facet of the company’s broader commitment to taking the lead on sustainability, which encompasses climate resilience, workplace and digital sustainability, and social responsibility.
“We’re focused on sustainability because it’s the right thing to do,” says Stasi Bobo-Ligon, Vice President and Global Relationship Leader for Zurich North America. “It’s not only important for us to share our experience and knowledge, but it’s up to us to lead by example, to demonstrate our sustainability mindset, and help our customers be able to do that as well.”
A Clear Mission
Sustainability and Zurich go way back. “A sustainably aware business considers more than just profits. It considers its impact on society and the environment,” says Ben Harper, Head of Corporate Sustainability for Zurich North America. “It’s been deep-rooted in our core business for quite some time.” The company began offering environmental betterment products a quarter-century ago, and in 2006, it established an office specifically dedicated to addressing growing concerns around climate. Since then, shrinking its environmental footprint has become a chief objective. With its LEED-certified building, the company has made major strides, but actions on a smaller scale matter too, such as eliminating single-use plastics like cups, straws, and takeout containers from all of its offices. And in a bold move to do its part in reducing CO₂ emissions, it has made a commitment to using 100% renewable power across all global operations by the end of 2022.
The benefits of sustainable business practices are real and measurable: Organizations become more efficient, provide a stronger platform for innovation, attract and retain more top talent, and achieve better growth, which strengthens stakeholder relations. Zurich has experienced some of these benefits firsthand. For instance, the company is currently ranked as No. 1 in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), after improving scores across all three components (governance and economic, environmental, and social).
And while these accolades are surely a win for the team, Harper believes that doing the right thing is the most compelling—and rewarding—reason for businesses to pursue sustainability. To that end, the insurer is increasingly emphasizing ESG components as critical factors in its own investment decisions. “Sustainability is integrated into everything we do, and investment is no exception,” says Harper. “We want to align our investment portfolio in the same way that we’re aligning our underwriting portfolio.” That’s why Zurich is moving away from investments that contribute to environmental harm, including thermal coal, oil sands, and oil shale. It’s also applying sustainable principles to its pipeline of products and services, focusing on low-carbon technologies like energy storage, smart grids, and renewables.
Inspiring Sustainability
Customers are inspired by the sustainability initiatives Zurich has undertaken. In fact, when one manufacturing client said it wanted to incorporate LEED features into a building it planned to construct, Bobo-Ligon directed them to the risk engineers who worked on Zurich’s Schaumburg campus, who were able to supply their expertise.
But it’s a two-way street. Customers often inspire Zurich as well. “We have customers asking for products to support development of new climate-friendly technologies and renewable energy sources,” says Harper. “It’s really satisfying to see these companies recognize sustainability as the right business decision.” One example is specialized coverage for the generation of renewable energy, which not only provides security for the loss of physical assets but can also reimburse the owner for lost income from the interruption of power sold to the grid—including loss of credits and rebates.
The insurer is also ready to assist customers who have their own unique challenges. For example, a customer recently asked to brainstorm on a solution to streamline the closure of depleted oil and gas wells. “Finding solutions for this kind of non-traditional risk is where our industry can provide the confidence necessary for insureds to make bold transitional changes, which starts by listening to the customer’s needs,” Harper explains.
New products, like a green endorsement that covers customers who want to rebuild post-loss to higher environmental standards, are just a small piece of the larger commitment Zurich makes to providing sustainability for all of its customers. The company’s Risk Engineering team also works proactively to prevent losses that may otherwise harm the environment, such as fires and pollution. This aspect of Zurich’s business is particularly important today, as the risks of climate change have become a top priority for many of its customers. Zurich is turning to innovative technology to come up with resilience-based products and services to address these risks. Just recently it launched an initiative called Climate Change Resilience Services, a dedicated team that works with businesses to help quantify climate change risk by providing insights on current and potential future risks and by identifying mitigation and adaption actions they can implement. This provides improved business continuity planning (suppliers and utilities are included in the analysis), which leads to better informed decision-making processes and strategic planning.
“As risk managers and data analyzers, we believe that we are in a pole position to provide thought leadership in this space,” says Harper, “which goes beyond offering products to providing services that support our customers’ transition to a low carbon society.”
Reaching beyond its own products and customers, Zurich also helps to develop sustainability solutions by working with government policymakers and partnering with leading universities, industry associations, and nonprofits to contribute expertise and financial support. In September 2020, Zurich announced that it would partner with Instituto Terra, which promises to plant one million native trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest in an effort to help restore biodiversity. The commitment is part of Zurich’s participation in the United Nations’ Business Ambition for 1.5°C climate-change project—and it is proud to be the first insurer to sign on. To extend the reach of the program, Zurich is planting a seedling on behalf of each spectator at the 2021 Zurich Classic.
All of these efforts make Zurich a good place to be. “I love the fact that I work for a company that takes sustainability so seriously,” says Bobo-Ligon. “We’re helping to create a brighter future for our children, for our communities, for our planet.”
Otatur rerum et ullit eiciis nihit, quos est, temt
Ben Harper
Head of Corporate Sustainability,
Zurich North America
“Sustainability is integrated into everything we do.”
Listen
Zurich’s Stasi Bobo-Ligon on the impacts of climate and globalization
Zurich’s Deep Commitment to Sustainability
1M
Number of seedlings Zurich
will plant through the
Zurich Forest Initiative
1,730
Number of acres of a Brazilian forest that will be restored
80%
Amount Zurich has reduced
its paper usage
99%
Amount of wood used in
Zurich’s LEED-certified North American headquarters
99%
Amount of the building’s construction and demolition waste diverted from landfills
1
Number of acres the building’s
green rooftop occupies
40
Number of acres surrounding
the building, including native savanna landscaping and
more than 600 trees
30%
Amount Zurich decreased its energy and water consumption after moving to its new headquarters
100%
Amount of global power usage Zurich plans to source from renewable energy by the end of 2022
Source: Zurich North America Knowledge Hub
Zurich’s Ben Harper on what sustainability means for the future
Stasi Bobo-Ligon
VP & Global Relationship Leader,
Zurich North America
“We’re focused on sustainability because it’s the right thing to do.”
Zurich Insurance Group is a leading multi-line insurer that serves its customers and local markets. In North America, Zurich is a leading commercial property-casualty and life insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, specialties, programs and individual sectors through the member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company and Zurich American Life Insurance Company. © Zurich American Insurance Company. All rights reserved.
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A set of two rectangular glass boxes topped by a cantilevered third is a dazzling sight that draws the attention of thousands of people who drive by it every day on Interstate 90 as the highway passes through Schaumburg, a suburb outside of Chicago.
The building is home to Zurich North America, and while the company is proud of its new headquarters’ curb appeal, it’s even more proud of its Platinum LEED certification, the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest rating for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of green buildings. The five-year-old award-winning structure is a clear testament to Zurich’s environmental stewardship, but that is just one facet of the company’s broader commitment to taking the lead on sustainability, which encompasses climate resilience, workplace and digital sustainability, and social responsibility.
“We’re focused on sustainability because it’s the right thing to do,” says Stasi Bobo-Ligon, vice president and global relationship leader for Zurich North America. “It’s not only important for us to share our experience and knowledge, but it’s up to us to lead by example, to demonstrate our sustainability mindset, and help our customers be able to do that as well.”
A Clear Mission
Sustainability and Zurich go way back. “A sustainably aware business considers more than just profits. It considers its impact on society and the environment,” says Ben Harper, head of corporate sustainability for Zurich North America. “It’s been deep-rooted in our core business for quite some time.” The company began offering environmental betterment products a quarter-century ago, and in 2006, it established an office specifically dedicated to addressing growing concerns around climate. Since then, shrinking its environmental footprint has become a chief objective. With its LEED-certified building, the company has made major strides, but actions on a smaller scale matter too, such as eliminating single-use plastics like cups, straws, and takeout containers from all of its offices. And in a bold move to do its part in reducing CO² emissions, it has made a commitment to using 100% renewable power across all global operations by the end of 2022.
The benefits of sustainable business practices are real and measurable: Organizations become more efficient, provide a stronger platform for innovation, attract and retain more top talent, and achieve better growth, which strengthens stakeholder relations. Zurich has experienced some of these benefits firsthand. For instance, the company is currently ranked as No. 1 in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), after improving scores across all three components (governance and economic, environmental, and social).
And while these accolades are surely a win for the team, Harper believes that doing the right thing is the most compelling—and rewarding—reason for businesses to pursue sustainability. To that end, the insurer is increasingly emphasizing ESG components as critical factors in its own investment decisions. “Sustainability is integrated into everything we do, and investment is no exception,” says Harper. “We want to align our investment portfolio in the same way that we’re aligning our underwriting portfolio.” That’s why Zurich is moving away from investments that contribute to environmental harm, including thermal coal, oil sands, and oil shale. It’s also applying sustainable principles to its pipeline of products and services, focusing on low-carbon technologies like energy storage, smart grids, and renewables.
Listen
Inspiring Sustainability
Customers are inspired by the sustainability initiatives Zurich has undertaken. In fact, when one manufacturing client said it wanted to incorporate LEED features into a building it planned to construct, Bobo-Ligon directed them to the risk engineers who worked on Zurich’s Schaumburg campus, who were able to supply their expertise.
But it’s a two-way street. Customers often inspire Zurich as well. “We have customers asking for products to support development of new climate-friendly technologies and renewable energy sources,” says Harper. “It’s really satisfying to see these companies recognize sustainability as the right business decision.” One example is specialized coverage for the generation of renewable energy, which not only provides security for the loss of physical assets but can also reimburse the owner for lost income from the interruption of power sold to the grid—including loss of credits and rebates.
The insurer is also ready to assist customers who have their own unique challenges. For example, a customer recently asked to brainstorm on a solution to streamline the closure of depleted oil and gas wells. “Finding solutions for this kind of non-traditional risk is where our industry can provide the confidence necessary for insureds to make bold transitional changes, which starts by listening to the customer’s needs,” Harper explains.
New products, like a green endorsement that covers customers who want to rebuild post-loss to higher environmental standards, are just a small piece of the larger commitment Zurich makes to providing sustainability for all of its customers. The company’s Risk Engineering team also works proactively to prevent losses that may otherwise harm the environment, such as fires and pollution. This aspect of Zurich’s business is particularly important today, as the risks of climate change have become a top priority for many of its customers. Zurich is turning to innovative technology to come up with resilience-based products and services to address these risks. Just recently it launched an initiative called Climate Change Resilience Services, a dedicated team that works with businesses to help quantify climate change risk by providing insights on current and potential future risks and by identifying mitigation and adaption actions they can implement. This provides improved business continuity planning (suppliers and utilities are included in the analysis), which leads to better informed decision-making processes and strategic planning.
Reaching beyond its own products and customers, Zurich also helps to develop sustainability solutions by working with government policymakers and partnering with leading universities, industry associations, and nonprofits to contribute expertise and financial support. In September 2020, Zurich announced that it would partner with Instituto Terra, which promises to plant one million native trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest in an effort to help restore biodiversity. The commitment is part of Zurich’s participation in the United Nations’ Business Ambition for 1.5°C climate-change project—and it is proud to be the first insurer to sign on. To extend the reach of the program, Zurich is planting a seedling on behalf of each spectator at the 2021 Zurich Classic.
All of these efforts make Zurich a good place to be. “I love the fact that I work for a company that takes sustainability so seriously,” says Bobo-Ligon. “We’re helping to create a brighter future for our children, for our communities, for our planet.”
Listen
The benefits of sustainable business practices are real and measurable: Organizations become more efficient, provide a stronger platform for innovation, attract and retain more top talent, and achieve better growth, which strengthens stakeholder relations. Zurich has experienced some of these benefits firsthand. For instance, the company is currently ranked as No. 1 in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), after improving scores across all three components (governance and economic, environmental, and social).
And while these accolades are surely a win for the team, Harper believes that doing the right thing is the most compelling—and rewarding—reason for businesses to pursue sustainability. To that end, the insurer is increasingly emphasizing ESG components as critical factors in its own investment decisions. “Sustainability is integrated into everything we do, and investment is no exception,” says Harper. “We want to align our investment portfolio in the same way that we’re aligning our underwriting portfolio.” That’s why Zurich is moving away from investments that contribute to environmental harm, including thermal coal, oil sands, and oil shale. It’s also applying sustainable principles to its pipeline of products and services, focusing on low-carbon technologies like energy storage, smart grids, and renewables.
Inspiring Sustainability
Customers are inspired by the sustainability initiatives Zurich has undertaken. In fact, when one manufacturing client said it wanted to incorporate LEED features into a building it planned to construct, Bobo-Ligon directed them to the risk engineers who worked on Zurich’s Schaumburg campus, who were able to supply their expertise.
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Why saving the planet is a business imperative
See more
Risk Assessment in a New World:
The new rules of the road when it comes to risk evaluation
See more
Commitment Where It Counts: Reaching new heights through diversity and inclusion
See more
The Importance of the Pivot:
How Billy Horschel stays
focused while optimizing
See more
Sustainable Sport:
Justin Rose on preserving
golf for future generations
See more
The Sky’s the Limit
Inside Collin Morikawa’s
career breakthrough
Explore more
