Allianz adopts eco-friendly activities

By Kim Tae-gyu

Allianz Life Korea, whose eco-friendly activities have been highly regarded, is to begin using recycled paper starting this week in line with the firm’s international green initiative.

The Seoul-based outfit, which consumes up to 50 million sheets of paper per year, projected the measure will save 4,356 trees every year as well as cutting down on its carbon dioxide emissions by more than 43 tons.

Plus, the company said that the step would also be of help to increase the profitability of one of the leading insurance companies in Korea.

``Unlike conventional products, recycled paper does not use bleaching agents and fluorescent dyes. Hence, the efficiency of business operation is expected to improve,’’ an Allianz Korea official said.

``Currently, the policy is about in-house consumption of paper. We plan to extend it to paper for our clients down the road so that we can fulfill our responsibility as a good corporate citizen while building up an image of green Allianz.’’

Allianz Life Korea is a subsidiary of Allianz Group, one of the world’s top financial corporations, that provides services to more than 60 million customers in around 70 countries across the world.

The campaign on recycled paper is in line with Allianz Group’s initiative of extending its commitment to reducing a carbon footprint.

In order to assist the world’s movement against climate change, Allianz Group launched the environmental management system (EMS) in 2008 geared toward slashing carbon emissions.

Under the scheme, the financial behemoth plans to diminish carbon emissions by 25 percent in 2012 compared to 2006.