Leading the Way: Allstate NI's Commitment to Sustainability
Published: September 25, 2023
At Allstate Northern Ireland, we aim to be a responsible and socially conscious business, implementing practices and initiatives that benefit our people, our community and our environment.
In all aspects of our business, we strive for continuous improvement and our environmental performance is no different; we recognize the ways our operations impact on the environment and seek to minimize those impacts.
Climate Action Strategy
We have a comprehensive waste management strategy, achieving a consistent 97% diversion of waste from landfill. Our waste and recycling systems include no individual waste bins in the office, and instead using centralized bins for recycling, food waste and general waste. Bins in the office are labelled with the types of waste that can be deposited in each, to support employees in their recycling efforts.
When attending the office, we encourage employees to bring and use a reusable cup for their tea and coffee. Reusable cups are available from our coffee shop for employees to purchase also.
BITC Climate Action Pledge
In 2020, we committed to reducing our scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. As of June 2023, we reduced our scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 33.35%.
We have reduced our emissions in a number of ways; consolidation of real estate, energy reduction measures mentioned above, hybrid working policy.
Tree Planting
In November 2022, Allstate NI launched the tree planting initiative. We purchased trees and staff were given the option to plant their own tree or to have Allstate NI plant one on their behalf. So far in 2023, through volunteering opportunities and Allstate funding, we have planted 4720 trees.
Most recently, we have partnered with Treekly, an app that allows us to turn footsteps into forests. By encouraging employees to walk 5,000 steps daily in order to earn a tree, we are helping to support a healthier lifestyle while funding reforestation projects.
We had 12 teams in total from Allstate Canada, US, Ireland and India. Together we walked 34,134,519 Steps in June which is approximately 16,200 miles and we planted 3600 Mangrove trees in the process.
Green Electricity
It has certainly helped my understanding of the Digital Product Manager role and how it looks in AllAll electricity supplied to Allstate NI offices is generated and sourced from 100% renewables. Our energy use is efficient too, utilizing LED light bulbs, light sensors, water sensors and a building management system which schedules appropriate start stop times on heating systems etc.
Energy Reduction
We have achieved significant energy reductions in Belfast in recent months, over 35% since November, this is on top of previous energy efficiency's we made over recent years with the shift to hybrid working and having less people in the office.
We have implemented new energy reducing measures in the offices via our Building Management System (BMS), for example, by implementing more efficient run times on our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
Environmental Benchmarking
The Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey benchmarks organisations against sector peers and leading Northern Ireland organisations, based on environmental management and performance in key areas, as well as the extent to which environmental business practices have been embedded within corporate strategies.
The survey is carried out each year, with Allstate NI achieving GOLD level for the past two years.
SDG Framework
We support 14/17 of the international SDGs — 7 with environmental impact.
Through all of these concerted efforts and adopting sustainable practices, we can better adapt to changing conditions and minimize our environmental impact here at Allstate NI.
