Zurich UK, which wants to find supplier partners who share its ethos, is rolling out a flagship Supplier Accreditation Scheme across its entire UK supplier base. The initiative is aimed at increasing transparency in the insurer’s own supply chain.
Designed to encourage its suppliers to adopt sustainable business practices, the scheme measures this through a questionnaire about their community and environmental activities. Zurich said its in-house experts score the responses and award gold, silver, or bronze accreditation based on the firms’ approach to sustainability.
The first wave of accreditations saw six suppliers receive the gold seal. These are car hire firm Enterprise Rent-A-Car; business and brand communications specialists RR Donnelley (RRD); delivery company Royal Mail; catering firm Sodexo; delivery management company Whistl; and stationery specialists WildHearts.
“Zurich is committed to sustainability and ensuring that our business activities have a positive impact on society, the environment, and the economy,” noted head of UK corporate affairs Sophie Timms. “We want to work with suppliers who share the same ethos, so we’ve launched the Supplier Accreditation Scheme to encourage them to do the right thing.
“We’re delighted to see that some of our suppliers are already embracing the behaviours and values which we firmly believe are best for business, customers, their employees, and society.”
The awarded accreditation is valid for three years. Suppliers also have the opportunity to resubmit their questionnaire responses within a year provided they can demonstrate that they have taken action to improve their corporate responsibility measures.
“We strongly believe that by integrating social and environmental concerns into our business operations we can make a real difference and help effect social change,” said Timms. “We hope we can work with more of our suppliers to help drive a movement for further change and embed sustainability across our whole supply chain.”
