Sustainability in the supply chain

At Swiss Re, we work directly with our suppliers to strengthen responsible practices and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our supply chain.

We use independent ESG assessments to build transparency across our supply base. Since 2016, new vendors supporting our operations are required to complete an ESG assessment during the onboarding process. These assessments include a wide variety of topics covering risks and operational measures to address anti-bribery and anti-corruption; environmental protection; human rights, equal rights and discrimination; inclusion; forced labour; child labour; working conditions and minimum wage; freedom of association and collective bargaining; health and safety; and supply chain responsibility.

Through our Vendor Emissions Programme, we collaborate with vendors to support their progress toward reducing emissions and aligning with long‑term net‑zero goals. The Vendor Emissions Programme builds on Swiss Re’s long‑standing approach of working with stakeholders, including clients, investees, and vendors, to support emission‑reduction efforts across the value chain. This engagement forms part of Swiss Re’s Climate Transition Plan and supports our sustainability ambition to achieve net‑zero emissions by 2050. The Vendor Emissions Programme provides a structured way to strengthen transparency and encourage progress toward science‑based emission‑reduction targets across the supply chain. 

Our net-zero transition largely depends on external developments such as the availability of robust methodologies and reliable data, a supportive public policy environment and generally the pace at which the real economy transitions. We seek to address these critical dependencies and uncertainties through transition-supporting activities. We will continue to review the appropriateness of our approach, definitions and targets based on developments in these areas. In addition, in cases where applicable laws, rules and regulations conflict with Swiss Re's policies, targets, measures and metrics, Swiss Re seeks to honour these in a manner consistent with the applicable laws, rules and regulations.