Sun Life Financial has released its 2017 Sustainability Report and its 2017 Public Accountability Statement, which highlight its progress in four key areas: organizational resilience; environmental responsibility, community wellness and governance and risk management.

Digital innovation

With respect to organizational resilience, the company opened its Ignite Studio at its new global headquarters in Toronto “to act as a living lab and space to advance digital and client innovation as well as employee collaboration.”

Regarding environmental responsibility, the company committed to targets to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions intensity.

Community wellness

In line with Sun Life's community wellness initiative formed in 2012 to prevent diabetes and its related complications, as of 2017, the company has pledged over $22 million to diabetes awareness and prevention activities.

In terms of governance and risk management, Sun Life noted its commitment to diversity and inclusion, which “is echoed at the highest levels of the organization, with women representing 36 per cent of Sun Life's Board of Directors.”

Seen improvements across the company

"We view sustainability as going hand in hand with our purpose of helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives," said Dean Connor, President & Chief Executive Officer, Sun Life Financial in an announcement this week. "We're making great strides in our sustainability priorities and are focused on embedding sustainability practices into our culture and operations. And it's working – we've seen improvements across the company in all four elements of our sustainability program."