Our key environmental figures

For many years now, ERGO has assumed responsibility for the environment. We actively support climate protection with our climate-neutral business operations.

A key component of our Group-wide environmental and climate protection strategy is the continuous reduction of our consumption of resources and the resulting CO2 emissions. In our reporting on our consumption of resources and CO2 emissions, we focus on the main direct impacts of our business operations on the environment and climate. These are the consumption of paper, energy and water, the waste we produce and the number of business trips made. The resulting CO2 emissions are measured and validated on a random basis by external auditors for the entire Munich Re Group including ERGO. ERGO has exceeded our Group-wide target of reducing our carbon footprint by 35% by 2020 compared to 2009. In 2020, we were able to reduce our Group-wide CO2 emissions by 51.6 percent per employee.

Notes on the environmental indicators:

An important component of our Group-wide environmental and climate protection strategy is the continuous reduction of our resource consumption and our resulting carbon emissions. In our reporting on consumption and carbon emissions, we focus on the significant direct impacts of our business operations on the environment and climate – namely our consumption of paper, energy and water; the amount of waste we produce; and the number of business trips undertaken. External quality-assurance specialists measure and spot-check the resulting carbon emissions for the entire Munich Re Group, including ERGO.

The consumption of resources per employee refers to in-house staff and salaried field staff. Self-employed field agents are not included in the environmental indicators.
To calculate the Group-wide carbon savings targets from 2009 to 2015 (target: –10% kg of carbon per employee), we used in each case the 2011 conversion factors of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) and the Association for Environmental Management and Sustainability in Financial Institutions (VfU). Green electricity was not included in the accounting, thereby ensuring that the quantitative values remain comparable over the target period.

In 2015, a new environmental and climate protection strategy was adopted by the Board of Management. The carbon savings target was expanded. From 2009 to 2020, 35% were to be saved in terms of kilogram of carbon per employee. ERGO has exceeded this target: 2020, we have reduced our Group-wide carbon emissions by 51.6 percent per employee. As of 2016, the Group’s carbon emissions are calculated on the basis of the latest conversion factors of the GHG Protocol and the VfU. The GHG Protocol is used for the conversion of Scope 1 emissions (direct energy), for electricity falling under Scope 2 emissions (indirect energy), and for the “short and long flights” components of the “business trips” element of Scope 3 emissions. Electricity from renewable sources is deemed as having zero emissions. Country-specific conversion factors were used for the remaining electricity consumption. The VfU conversion factors are taken as the basis for calculating the Scope 2 emissions “district heating” and the Scope 3 emissions for paper, water and waste, as well as the “company vehicles, taxis, hire vehicles, train journeys” components of the “business trips” element. Business trips with company cars are calculated using individual factors, if available. If not available, the VfU conversion factor is used.

CO2 emission sources:

• Scope 1: Direct emissions from primary energy consumption (natural gas, heating oil, emergency diesel generators, fuel for company cars)
• Scope 2: Indirect emissions from procured energy (purchase of electricity, district heating, and district cooling)
• Scope 3: Other indirect emissions (business trips, consumption of paper and water, waste)