Insurance business line (Sogécap / Sogessur)

Priority :
  • Broaden and structure sustainable development at Sogessur,
  • Incorporate Société Générale Group targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and define a series of action plans for their implementation within Sogécap.
Highlights in 2009 :
SOGESSUR
  • Creation of an Innovation and Sustainable Development Committee,
  • Modification of an existing insurance product to suit the needs of blended families,
  • SRI (Socially responsible investment) in a shareholder activism fund,
  • Use of the services of a Centre d’Aide au Travail – a French agency that assists the disabled in integrating the job market – for its catering requirements.
SOGECAP
Setting up of a Sustainable Development Committee to reinforce Sogécap's commitment and definition of a series of performance indicators and an action plan.
Sogessur and Sogécap - making their own way in terms of CSR
Conscious of the environmental and social impact of their activities, Sogessur1 and Sogécap2 have implemented a certain number of good practices in-house in order to limit their environmental footprint and improve the working conditions of their employees.
Customers/Products
Sogessur has developed various communication products and media that factor in the individual concerns of its customers:
  • Accommodation within its product offer of possible changes in family structures: adaptation of the marketing strategy and prices of its non-occupational accident cover to suit blended families,
  • Preventative measures: keeping Sogessur policyholders informed through its "C’est essentiel" half-yearly newsletter with various features on a range of topics such as cost-efficient driving, natural disasters or domestic accidents, etc.
After the damage in several departments in the south of France caused by the storm of January 24, 2009, Sogessur took exceptional measures to assist claimants (telephone call centre, extended deadlines for damages claims, cover of certain expenses, etc.).
At Sogécap, the creation of a SRI product offer is currently under review in order to promote sociallyresponsible investments amongst its customers.
Environment
Information campaigns and measures to reduce the consumption of paper, water and energy.In 2009, Sogécap printed 80% of its sales and marketing documents on PEFC/FSC-certified paper.Moreover, the company was able to economise 23 tons of paper in 2009 by reducing the number of statements sent to customers. Ongoing efforts to replace paper statements by electronic formats will mean a saving of 25 tons of paper between now and the start of 2011.
Sogessur has begun implementing the digital archiving of customer files.
Community :
  • Sogessur uses the services of a Centre d’Aide au Travail – a French agency that assists the disabled in integrating the job market - to prepare the buffets for the events it organises. In 2008, the cost of the services amounted to € 2 500,
  • Sogécap employs the services of a workshop that employs disabled staff for the distribution of its annual report.
Governance :
  • Sogessur is one of the first French insurance companies and the first Group entity to invest part of its cash flow in an equity3 investment fund whose policy and strategy is to develop and improve corporate governance practices. This investment is a concrete example of the company's commitment to CSR, soon to be strengthened even further with its adhesion to the Insurers' Sustainable Development Charter which requires that insurance companies practise a responsible investment policy4,
  • Sogécap's Finance Department regularly takes part in a SRI working group set up by the AFA (French Insurance Association ),
  • Sogécap also took part in the drafting of the Sustainable Development Charter of the AFA which applies to all of its members (FFSA and Gema).
  • A review is currently underway on how best to integrate environmental, social and governance criteria in the management of assets by Sogécap.
NOTES
  1. Sogessur is the privileged partner of Société Générale's retail network in France for non-life insurance services,
  2. Sogécap is one of the leading life bancassurance companies in France. The subsidiary offers savings and pension products and payment protection cover for companies,
  3. Proxy Active Investor, managed by Phitrust Active Investors,
  4. The commitments undertaken by member insurance companies are laid down in the Sustainable Development Charter of the French Insurance Association, namely to :
    - Adopt a responsible approach to sustainable development,
    - Contribute to the fight against climate change,
    - Stimulate economic development and help safeguard the more vulnerable segments of society,
    - Encourage responsible investment strategies,
    - Ensure the growth of insurance companies within a responsible environmental and social framework.