AXA's climate protection measures
In terms of climate protection, AXA focuses on transitioning to an economy and society that produce less carbon. Through our partnership with the Swiss Climate Foundation, AXA supports Swiss and Liechtenstein SMEs that are developing innovative solutions for climate protection. AXA has set decarbonization targets for its investment and insurance portfolio that are compatible with the Paris Agreement. AXA offers its customers products and services, such as promoting e-mobility or repairing instead of replacing car parts. AXA is training its staff in the scientific principles of climate change through its own Climate Academy – an offer that improves their knowledge and understanding of climate change. AXA is also setting targets and developing measures that will continually reduce the carbon emissions of its operating business.
Measures in our business to help reach the net zero target
As well as reduction measures, AXA Switzerland aims to support the removal of carbon to help reach the net zero target by 2050 and to limit global warming. We are going forward step by step so that we can implement this plan.
1. We are setting ourselves targets and measuring our progress
Effective climate protection begins with clear targets. In terms of energy consumption (direct and indirect emissions through purchased energy – Scope 1 and Scope 2 under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol) we have set ourselves the target of reducing greenhouse gases by 50 percent by 2030 compared to 2019. In terms of business travel, we are aiming to reduce carbon emissions of car journeys by 42 percent and those of flights and train journeys by 40 percent by 2030 compared to 2019. These carbon reduction targets relate to AXA Switzerland excluding the sales team. We measure the progress of our goals every year.
Actual carbon reduction 2019 - 2025
2. We assess our carbon footprint every year
To measure our progress in reducing greenhouse gases, we assess annually where carbon emissions are produced in our business and how high they are.
How is our carbon footprint calculated?
Our carbon footprint is calculated by myclimate based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Standard. This international standard divides emissions into three areas known as scopes.
- Scope 1 includes direct emissions from internal sources (e.g. heating using fossil fuels).
- Scope 2 contains indirect emissions from purchased energy.
- Scope 3 includes all other indirect greenhouse gas emissions along the value creation chain – from employee mobility to acquired goods and services.
We integrate the carbon output of the 340 sales offices in this calculation.
Carbon footprint of AXA Switzerland business in 2025
Within Scope 3, mobility accounts for around two thirds of carbon emissions. In terms of commuter traffic and business travel, car journeys are responsible for most of the emissions. The emissions from acquired goods and services include meals in the staff restaurants. In terms of IT equipment, the procurement of electronic equipment such as computer screens or laptops is the main factor. The impact on the climate from power and fossil fuel-related activities stems mainly from heating buildings.
3. We are developing and implementing reduction measures
The transparency on the origin and level of our greenhouse gas emissions helps us to identify reduction potential. For AXA Switzerland to reach its carbon reduction targets, we are developing suitable reduction measures and continuously implementing them.
Climate-friendly mobility
Mobility is one of the greatest leverage factors for climate protection in our business. We have internal travel guidelines to encourage our employees to travel in an eco-friendly way and to take the train rather than fly or drive. AXA Switzerland supports the use of public transportation by reimbursing employees who buy a half-fare card, for example. Most of AXA's office buildings can easily be reached with public transportation, and they have bike stations available as well as parking spaces with e-charging stations. AXA also organizes initiatives for its staff to promote the transition to e-mobility. Thanks to Smart Working, our employees can work flexibly from home, in the office, or elsewhere. This way, commuting journeys are saved which has a positive impact on our carbon footprint.
Small electric cars for the AXA Switzerland sales team.
Energy-efficient buildings and renewable energy
As a member of the Zurich Energy Model, AXA has been successfully implementing measures to improve energy efficiency in its office buildings since 2010. We also optimize the use of our office spaces. Another way we help prevent climate change is by replacing fossil fuel heating systems with more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as district heating. AXA has been using electricity from renewable sources since 2009 and it also produces its own through photovoltaic panels on our office buildings in Winterthur, Lausanne and Lugano.
4. We support carbon removal
In addition to reducing carbon emissions in our own value creation chain, AXA is supporting the scaling of innovative technologies that remove and store CO₂ from the atmosphere over the long term. The young Swiss company Neustark will have removed and stored on a long-term basis 1,800 tons of carbon by 2030. Neustark has developed a technology that captures carbon in its biogas facilities and stores it in demolition concrete. The German-Brazilian start-up InPlanet will have removed and stored a further 1,950 tons by 2028. InPlanet removes carbon by weathering certain types of rock. The company accelerates a natural process by spreading finely ground rock powder on agricultural land in Brazil.
The following video shows you more about the carbon removal project that AXA Switzerland is supporting:
