Why we put less waste in landfills

By Kari Grasee, American Family Insurance Business and Workplace Services Vice President

One of my favorite lines in the American Family Insurance company culture statement is in the community section. It says: “This is a better community because American Family is part of it.”

We always keep this statement in mind when we take action as a company. And I’m proud to say I work at American Family because of how we make our communities better by:

• Giving to others through the American Family Dreams Foundation.
• Encouraging employees and agents to volunteer their time to charitable causes.
• Working to create a diverse and inclusive workplace, welcoming to all ideas and perspectives.
• Focusing on recycling and energy management that sustain our environment.

All this speaks to our corporate responsibility commitment. See our 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report for more examples.

The Business and Workplace Services team at American Family Insurance is focused on our operations, from our physical work spaces to the ways we create sustainability in our energy, waste, office designs and landscapes.

We actively measure waste, energy and water and implement strategies to use resources more efficiently. We’re committed to using renewable energy, such as solar, and incorporating sustainable building practices and materials into our construction projects. We continually look for opportunities to reduce paper and provide charging stations to support employees who drive electric vehicles.

It’s undeniable that human actions have adversely impacted our environment. The average person creates 4.3 pounds of waste a day. That translates into 220 million tons of waste a year in the U.S. alone, with much of this ending up in landfills.

One of our sustainability goals is to achieve zero waste. “Zero waste” means 90 percent of waste created by American Family Insurance does not end up in a landfill.

This is a bold goal. It forces us to rethink how we approach our sustainability efforts, from our reducing, reusing and recycling practices to purchasing decisions.

During 2017, our Madison offices achieved a 77 percent waste-diversion rate. While this is a significant achievement, we plan to increase that number.

In the last year, we’ve enhanced our waste-monitoring and tracking efforts and are partnering with a consultant to create a sustainable materials management plan. We’ve implemented new recycling containers and signs to help employees sort waste. And, we have plans to expand our organic programs to other company office locations in 2019.

We’re also asking employees to commit to earth-friendly acts and make more sustainable choices. Small changes in daily behaviors add up and have a big impact.