We couldn't talk about building loyalty without standing behind our clients, our AIR MILES Collectors, and our communities. This is, after all, an enterprise founded on loyalty, collaboration, and trust—basic values that extend well beyond our bottom line.

We are pleased to release LoyaltyOne's first Accountability Report, where we share with you an overview of actions we are taking to contribute to the communities we operate in, reduce our environmental footprint, and provide a rewarding and engaging workplace. In addition to the full report, we have created a shorter version highlighting our 2008-2009 achievements.

At LoyaltyOne, we are steadfast in our desire to reduce our environmental footprint. We incorporate social responsibility into all our core business activities - and by setting a positive example, aim to inspire our clients, consumers and associates to make more environmentally sustainable choices in their everyday lives.

Our commitment towards building a sustainable workplace began at the grassroots level. Some time ago, a number of our associates got together and formed a Leading Environmental Award Forum (LEAF), a small group that has promoted a culture of sustainability and spearheaded the development of a multitude of best practices designed to achieve the highest possible level of environmental consciousness.

 

Today, LoyaltyOne is building on this great work and reducing the environmental impact in all facets of our business.

• We have introduced power saving measures at AIR MILES data centres, implemented a computer recycling program, lessened our internal paper use and reconfigured our office space to reduce construction waste.
• We encourage staff to use public transit to commute to work and have a fleet of fuel-efficient Smart Cars available if people need to travel to business meetings.
• We have implemented video conferencing to minimize travel between our office locations.
• We have implemented a successful work from home program where a large portion of our Customer Care Center staff are equipped and trained to work from home, completely eliminating their commute to the office. 
• We now have 2 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) buildings – in Mississauga and in Calgary.
• The Mississauga building has Canada’s largest solar photo voltaic power generation system on its roof, utilizing 800 solar panels to generate 165 kilowatts of energy during every hour of sunlight.
  

Further, AIR MILES has commenced the migration of its Collector community to electronic communication. What’s more, AIR MILES is now manufacturing collector cards from recycled plastic and is careful to select Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) paper when collectors prefer paper communications.

And LoyaltyOne’s commitment extends beyond the confines of our organization. We have leveraged our strong relationships with our Collectors to encourage them to embrace sustainable measures as well. Recently, we launched the My Planet Program - a program that rewards our Collectors for making environmentally sustainable choices in their own lives.

Soon, we will be increasing our already successful work-from-home program to encompass 15% of our staff. Plus, we will continue our pursuit of LEED standards for our other locations striving to get 85% of our staff in LEED certified space. We are continuing our drive towards sustainability with some significant new ideas on the horizon. We have partnered with WWF for their 2010 Living Planet at work campaign, encouraging our staff to focus on conservation – at home and at the office. We also believe that green needs to become mainstream. Our focus in 2010 is to build new “green” efficiency and effectiveness strategies into as many internal business processes as possible.

LoyaltyOne cofounder Craig Underwood, who came from a family devoted to public service, believed that the success of his venture should benefit the broader community that supported it. That spirit continues today, in acts large and small. We support our associates in giving back to the communities where they live and work. And we also give to carefully selected nonprofit groups with national scope and broad social relevance.

Special Olympics Canada
Since 1994, the AIR MILES® Reward Program has helped Canadians living with an intellectual disability achieve their dreams. Through a weeklong nationwide campaign, AIR MILES invites Collectors, Sponsors, and program associates to donate reward miles to help Special Olympics athletes and their coaches fly to training and competitions worldwide. LoyaltyOne CEO Bryan Pearson and Alliance Data COO John Scullion both sit on the board of the Special Olympics Foundation.


Kids Help Phone
At the end of the day, the AIR MILES® Reward Program is about empowering families to achieve their dreams. Since 2005, AIR MILES had empowered children across Canada to reach their full potential by supporting Kids Help Phone, Canada's only toll-free, 24-hour, bilingual, and anonymous phone and web counseling, referral, and information center. AIR MILES partners with its Sponsors to create in-store donation campaigns that promote the kid-friendly service nationwide.


Annual Charity Drive
Through its annual holiday charity drive, AIR MILES® Reward Program matches gifts of toys, food items, and funds raised by its associates through a variety of fun events, including a raffle, $1 breakfast, and holiday bazaar. This is just one way we support the communities in which we work.

The respect and protection of consumer data is paramount in everything we do at LoyaltyOne. "We recognize that we have a very important stewardship role in protecting the interests of our end customers," notes CEO Bryan Pearson. "Respecting consumer privacy expectations is a cornerstone of our culture given the trust people have placed in us."

This philosophy is also at work in all of our business practices. LoyaltyOne businesses, including AIR MILES® Reward Program, are highly visible advocates of privacy policies and practices that establish and maintain a balance between the rights and privacy expectations of consumers and the needs of business. As leaders in their respective industries, our businesses partner with regional, national, and international organizations to maintain both regulatory and industry best practices. At the same time, we continue to engage consumers, industry and government leaders, and all stakeholders in the evolving discussion about data privacy and the proper protection, use, and disclosure of personal information.