Aflac Improves in NEWSWEEK's 2010 Green Rankings

COLUMBUS, Ga., Nov. 5, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac has fortified its growing reputation as an environmentally friendly business, moving up 67 spots from last year's ranking of green businesses in America by NEWSWEEK.  Aflac, cracked the top 60 percent for overall green score, and is ranked Number 4 in the insurance industry in the category of Environmental Impact with a score of 87.63. The environmental impact score measures a company's worldwide footprint based on more than 750 metrics. 

"We are extremely pleased that Aflac has improved its green standing among the 500 largest American companies," Aflac Vice President of Facilities and Employee Green Committee Chair Alfred Blackmar said. "It's a tremendous honor for Aflac, our Board of Directors, and our employee-led Green Committee to be recognized for our efforts to reduce resources required to conduct business, increase our recycling rate, and reduce our carbon footprint."

In addition to an employee-led green committee, Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos created a green committee within the Board of Directors. Board members work closely with employees to develop the company's corporate green policies. In 2010, the Board of Directors issued its first-ever green policy statement declaring Aflac's commitment to balance effective and efficient management of operations with responsible environmental stewardship.

"Aflac's Board of Directors strongly believes that what's good for the planet is good for our customers, our shareholders, our employees and the communities where we all live and work. Our recently issued green policy statement affirms our organizational commitment to establishing meaningful sustainability standards and practices, and we're delighted to see that commitment to continuous improvement reflected in such a significant way," Aflac Board of Directors member and Chair of the Board's Green Committee, Elizabeth "Betty" Hudson said.

Aflac has realigned its corporate strategy and technology initiatives with an eye toward improving efficiencies, prioritizing green considerations and reducing costs. The company currently reviews 90 percent of applications and issues 80 percent of its invoices electronically.  Aflac agents also encourage new policyholders to accept policies via e-mail. Combined, these processes are reducing annual paper use by an estimated 17.5 million pages, saving approximately $6.3 million in paper, print, postage and other expenses.

"Reducing our paper usage and our power consumption has shown us that being a strong steward of the environment can be beneficial to both the community and to the company's bottom line," Blackmar said.

NEWSWEEK's 2010 Green Rankings is a data-driven assessment of the largest companies in the U.S. and the world. Their goal is to cut through the green chatter and quantify the actual environmental footprints, policies, and reputations of these big businesses. Companies are ranked annually.

About Aflac

When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For 55 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance. In Japan, Aflac is the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force. Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. Aflac has been recognized by ETHISPHERE magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for four consecutive years and has been named by the Reputation Institute as the Most Reputable Company in the Global Insurance Industry for two consecutive years. In 2010, FORTUNE magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the twelfth consecutive year. In addition, FORTUNE magazine ranked Aflac No. 1 on its global list of the Most Admired Companies in the Life and Health Insurance category. Aflac was also named by FORBES magazine as America's Best-Managed Company in the Insurance category. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090422/CL03654LOGO )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090422/CL03654LOGO )

SOURCE Aflac

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