Aviva’s Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility

Aviva’s Strategic Pillars of Corporate Social Responsibility

Aviva’s CSR framework is not a peripheral activity but a core strategic imperative, deeply embedded within its corporate DNA and business operations. The company’s approach is structured around three interconnected pillars: Climate Action, Inclusive Economy, and Community Resilience. This triad forms the foundation upon which all its CSR initiatives are built, measured, and reported. The strategy is explicitly linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring alignment with global priorities and providing a clear, internationally recognized benchmark for progress.

The governance of this strategy is rigorous and top-down. Oversight begins at the highest level with the Aviva Board’s Sustainability Committee, which is responsible for reviewing and challenging the group’s performance on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters. This senior-level accountability ensures that CSR is not siloed within a specific department but is a consideration in every major corporate decision, from investments and underwriting to product development and operational management.

Leading the Charge on Climate Action and Sustainable Finance

Aviva has positioned itself as a vocal leader in the global financial sector’s response to the climate crisis. Its strategy extends beyond mitigating its own operational footprint to leveraging its immense influence as a major investor and insurer to drive systemic change across the economy.

A central tenet of this commitment is responsible investment. Aviva Plc manages hundreds of billions in assets, and it actively uses this capital to support the transition to a net-zero economy. The company was a founding member of the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance, an international group of institutional investors committed to transitioning their investment portfolios to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This involves engaging with the companies it invests in, setting stringent climate-related expectations, and, crucially, divesting from those that fail to demonstrate a credible transition plan. For instance, Aviva has implemented policies to restrict investment in coal producers and other carbon-intensive industries that are not aligning with the Paris Agreement goals.

In its underwriting practices, Aviva is applying similar principles. The company is increasingly embedding sustainability criteria into its insurance products. This includes offering incentives for clients who adopt greener technologies, developing innovative insurance solutions for renewable energy projects, and phasing out insurance services for carbon-intensive sectors that lack a clear decarbonization pathway. Furthermore, Aviva is transparent about its progress, publishing detailed reports on the carbon footprint of its investments and underwriting portfolio, holding itself accountable to its stakeholders and the public.

Operationally, Aviva is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, a target that is a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement. This involves ambitious initiatives to power its operations with 100% renewable electricity, enhance energy efficiency across its estate, transition its company car fleet to electric vehicles, and reduce waste. The company reports its operational carbon emissions annually, demonstrating a consistent downward trajectory.

Building a More Inclusive Economy

Aviva’s vision for an inclusive economy is one where financial security and opportunity are accessible to all, regardless of background, age, or circumstance. This pillar focuses on closing protection gaps, promoting financial literacy, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

A significant focus is on addressing the financial protection gap—the difference between the level of insurance coverage that is economically beneficial and the amount actually purchased. Millions of people in the UK and around the world are underinsured or entirely uninsured, leaving them vulnerable to financial shock from events like illness, accident, or natural disaster. Aviva invests in research to understand the barriers to protection—such as affordability, complexity, and lack of trust—and develops products and services designed to overcome them. This includes creating more flexible, accessible, and easy-to-understand insurance products.

Financial education and capability are also critical components. Aviva runs numerous programs aimed at improving financial literacy across different age groups. For example, its partnership with the charity LifeSavers provides primary school children with practical experience of saving money, helping to build positive financial habits from a young age. For adults, Aviva provides free online resources and tools to help people better understand their finances, plan for retirement, and make informed decisions about protection.

Internally, Aviva’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) is a cornerstone of its inclusive economy pillar. The company has set public, ambitious targets for gender and ethnic diversity across its workforce, including at senior leadership levels. This is supported by a comprehensive strategy involving unbiased recruitment processes, inclusive leadership training, mentorship programs for underrepresented groups, and active employee resource networks. Aviva believes that a diverse workforce is not only the right thing to do but is essential for business success, fostering innovation, and ensuring its products and services resonate with a diverse customer base.

Fostering Community Resilience

Aviva’s third pillar recognizes that a company’s responsibility extends to the communities in which it operates. The company empowers its people and leverages its resources to build stronger, more resilient communities that can withstand and recover from social, economic, and environmental challenges.

A powerful engine for this work is the Aviva Foundation and the company’s employee volunteering and fundraising programs. The Aviva Foundation focuses its charitable giving on key areas such as financial literacy and environmental conservation. A notable initiative is the Aviva Community Fund, which has for years invited charities and community groups to pitch for funding for projects that make a positive difference. This program, often supported by employee and public voting, has directed millions of pounds to thousands of local causes, from purchasing equipment for community centers to supporting mental health initiatives.

Employee engagement is central to this community focus. Aviva encourages its employees to contribute their time and skills through a generous volunteering policy, which includes paid time off for volunteering activities. This not only amplifies the company’s social impact but also boosts employee morale and engagement, creating a virtuous cycle. During times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or major floods, Aviva has activated specific response measures, including premium holidays for struggling customers, donations to emergency funds, and deploying its people to support relief efforts.

The company also applies the concept of resilience to its supply chain management. Aviva expects its suppliers to adhere to high ethical standards, as outlined in its stringent Supplier Code of Conduct. This code mandates respect for human rights, fair labor practices, and environmental responsibility throughout its supply chain. By conducting audits and holding suppliers accountable, Aviva ensures that its community-positive values are upheld even by its external partners.

Transparency, Reporting, and Stakeholder Engagement

A defining feature of Aviva’s CSR approach is its unwavering commitment to transparency. The company understands that trust is earned through open communication and accountability. It annually publishes a comprehensive Sustainability Report that details its performance against a wide array of ESG metrics. This report is aligned with leading international reporting standards, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), providing stakeholders with consistent, comparable, and reliable data.

This transparency is fueled by continuous stakeholder engagement. Aviva actively dialogues with a broad range of groups—including customers, employees, investors, NGOs, regulators, and community leaders—to understand their concerns, expectations, and priorities. This feedback is not merely collected; it is integrated directly into the strategic planning process, ensuring that Aviva’s CSR agenda remains relevant, responsive, and effective. For instance, investor pressure on climate change has been a significant driver in shaping Aviva’s industry-leading policies on divestment and net-zero targets.

The measurement of impact is taken seriously. Aviva does not just report on activities; it reports on outcomes. It sets specific, measurable, and time-bound targets for each of its three pillars—such as reducing the carbon intensity of its investments by a certain percentage, increasing the representation of women in leadership roles, or quantifying the amount of funding directed to community projects. This results-oriented approach allows the company to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate the tangible difference its commitment to corporate social responsibility is making in the world.