Defining sustainability

AEGON uses a 'stakeholder framework' to help define its approach to Sustainability (see diagram above) and those issues the company considers to be of 'material importance'. This framework helps shape both internal initiatives and AEGON's overall policies with regard to sustainability issues, as well as providing support to the company's broader corporate strategy.

AEGON's Sustainability Report follows a similar structure, and aims to provide both information and a focus for continued dialogue with the company's stakeholders. Consequently, the report is structured around AEGON's main stakeholder groups: its customers, shareholders, employees, business partners and the wider community in which the company operates.

AEGON believes that this 'stakeholder framework' provides a more balanced approach to measuring the company's overall performance, which should take into account financial, social and environmental factors.

In 2010, AEGON will begin establishing a series of key performance indicators and targets to help measure the company's sustainability performance.