For the eighth consecutive year, our Group has fulfilled its obligation to the community to measure the company's emissions produced by its activities. This measurement helps the Group to improve by targeting targeted actions to reduce these pollutants. The total emissions of our three Group companies in 2021 are shown below:
Emissions t CO2 eq 2021
- Staff movements:160 t CO2 eq
- Company cars: 32 t CO2 eq
- Natural gas: 137 t CO2 eq
- Electricity: 1,154 t CO2 eq
- Paper - Toner:1.7 t CO2 eq
Total 2021: 1,484 t CO2 eq
European Reliance's total pollutants appear to be reduced by 165.6 t CO2, compared to the previous period, i.e. - 10.0%. Overall, a reduction in pollutants was observed in all controlled categories, influenced by several factors, such as the fact that most of the staff worked remotely in 2021, resulting in a significant reduction in travel to and from work.
It was also influenced by the increased eco-consciousness of European Reliance employees, who are using more modern technology vehicles (electric & hybrid), and that a large part of the staff has switched to using greener means of transport (bicycles, electric scooters, public transport, etc.).
European Reliance, as a responsible corporate citizen, understands sustainable development as an effort to build a more competitive low-emission economy that makes efficient and sustainable use of its resources, taking into account the protection of the environment.
European Reliance is continuously investing in green growth. This is confirmed on the one hand by the ISO 50001:2011 standard certification of the energy management system, whereby companies are encouraged to act in a sustainable manner and save resources, and on the other hand by the investments European Reliance is making in the energy upgrade of its buildings, as well as by its activities aimed at reducing its carbon footprint.
True to its principles of supporting and developing renewable energy as a means of sustainable development, in October 2012 European Reliance proceeded with the acquisition of a Photovoltaic Power Plant investing in the renewable energy sector.
For the employees of European Reliance General Insurance Co. SA, the importance of recycling is presented in the following sections:
- Reducing waste and its management problems.
- Energy and natural resources are saved, which are continuously taken from nature, and a long-term decrease (or no increase) in product prices is achieved, as no new production of raw material is required.
- Pollution of the atmosphere, soil and groundwater is reduced.
- The energy required to manufacture all the above-mentioned items is saved.
- New jobs are created in sustainable energy sectors.
- Recycling 1 tonne of paper saves 17 trees and 40,000 litres of water, reduces air pollution by 95% and saves 130-170 litres of oil.
European Reliance, since the beginning of its effort to fully manage its waste in 2012, has managed to recycle around 1,725 kg of materials (paper, aluminium, plastic) every month. Specifically, for 2021 the Group recycled 11.67 tonnes, while destroying 0.84 tonnes of confidential documents.