Nationwide Insurance Largest Business to Join Mayor Coleman’s GreenSpot Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2009
Contact:
Liz Christopher 614-249-7705
christe1@nationwide.com
Columbus, Ohio— Nationwide Insurance’s on-going commitment to operating in an environmentally friendly way has been recognized by Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman through its designation as a GreenSpot.
GreenSpot is the city of Columbus’ voluntary program to inspire and educate those in the community who want to improve the environment. With about 7,600 of its more than 33,000 employees working within the city, Nationwide is now the largest member company.
“The great people at Nationwide have long been leaders in business and civic engagement, and so it is gratifying to see them commit themselves to sustainability,” said Mayor Coleman. “As the largest company to receive a GreenSpot, Nationwide is leading by example toward making Columbus a greener city.”
In April, Nationwide produced its first inventory of hundreds of actions taken by the company to reduce its impact on the environment and undertook its first carbon footprint study to assess the company’s environmental impact and to identify cost effective means to reduce it.
Nationwide has also committed to making it easy and more environmentally friendly for customers to do business online or over the phone. Nationwide customers can choose to go paperless when receiving information from the company.
Nationwide’s associates play a key role in the GreenSpot designation, with ever increasing recycling and reuse programs, which Nationwide started in the early 1970s. In 2008, Nationwide recycled 2.2 million pounds of paper in central Ohio. As part of the Nationwide Green Initiative, associates are increasingly using online collaboration tools and video conferencing to work together with less travel and impact on the environment. At Nationwide's downtown headquarters, new bike racks in covered parking garages and free access to lockers and showers make it easy for associates to bike to work.
“Nationwide has a long-standing tradition of acting as an environmental steward,” said Scot Zajic, leader of Nationwide’s Green Team. “We’re proud of the efforts Nationwiders make everyday that has allowed us to be a leader among Columbus area businesses. We encourage our associates, vendors and fellow area businesses to learn and use the practical suggestions offered by the GreenSpot program.”
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by A.M. Best. The company provides a full range of personalized insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
