Corporate responsibility and sustainability

As a healthcare business without shareholders, we are focused on serving our customers. We champion quality, medically-evidenced treatment and care, creating shared value. We seek to deliver value for money, provide exceptional care, and help customers navigate the complex world of healthcare.

Our people are vital to our success. We promote a positive working environment that engages and a diverse and inclusive culture that engages and empowers people with the right tools, training, information, recognition and reward. We want everyone to be happier and healthier because they work at Bupa and invest in this through our ‘Smile’ programme. Our Bupa values and the Bupa Code set clear expectations to protect our customers, our colleagues, our partners and Bupa, now and in the future.

With a strong purpose across the organisation, we also have seven clear Bupa values and the Bupa Code which we are designed to help our people make the right choices. More broadly, we aim to ensure a culture which emphasises serving the interests of customers and upholding internal controls including specific policies and regulations. We have performance management, risk management, audit, governance, and ‘Speak Up’ processes in place. Read our latest statement under the UK's Modern Slavery Act and also view our statement for the financial year ending 31 December 2016.

Beyond our health and care services for customers, we engage more widely in their health and wellbeing. We also connect with stakeholders to make a positive contribution on public health matters. We work with numerous community groups and sporting organisations and have dedicated Health Foundations, in Australia, the UK and Spain to channel our investment in research and initiatives to improve public health. We’ve produced a short report which showcases some of the work we are doing around the world to engage our communities in their health. 

Climate change is a health concern, and we play an active part in promoting positive environmental practices. In 2016, we reduced our absolute global carbon emissions by a further 1% to 149.7 ktCO2e (representing an almost 25% reduction against our 2009 baseline) through energy efficiency and renewable projects across our business, and the purchase of electricity from certified renewable sources. During this year, we broadened our global environmental investment programme and continued our focus on promoting the use of renewable energy.