How Green Are We?

Sustainability has always been at the heart of what we do. Here's how we we make a difference...

Walking the walk – how we minimise the impact of our operations;

  • Declaring a climate emergency – following our declaration, we are currently producing a net zero plan and completing the analysis of our carbon footprint. As we await the completion of that process we have a broad estimate of our emissions, which we offset through Climate Care, using a mixed portfolio that focuses on clean cooking, safe water and wind power. Long term, however, we do not see offsetting as the way forward.
  • Sustainable business travel policy – The majority of Naturesave’s business travel is conducted by train. Whilst travel by car is occasionally unavoidable, for business travel we never consider the option of flying. We also operate a Cycle to Work scheme, however, this has yet to be taken up an employee.
  • Well chosen suppliers – Naturesave have a consistent focus on environmental and ethical suppliers for all our services (telephone, banking, electricity) and office supplies where possible, which included retrofitting our office with LED lighting. Our website is hosted by GreenNet who has a strong ethical and environmental credentials and use servers powered by renewables.
  • Decarbonising our website – Finally,. we are also undergoing a process to reduce the carbon attributed to our website (its more than you think!). Our recommended source as a guide for achieving this is from Wholegrain Digital
  • Four day week – we have been operating a four day week since 2020. This switch in working practices helped contribute to reduced staff commuting emissions of over 20%.

Making a differences – putting the ethical into insurance;

  • We’ve donated over £1 million to charity – Here at Naturesave we provide 100% of the funding for our charity, The Naturesave Trust, which supports environmental and conservation projects across the UK. Learn more about the work of the Trust.
  • We plant a tree for every client – In November 2018, the Committee on Climate Change announced that tree planting needed to double by 2020, as part of radical changes to land use within the UK, that is necessary to avert a climate breakdown. New forests are now seen as playing a vital role in locking up carbon, improving biodiversity and limiting the increase in flood risks expected with global warming. Naturesave is now committed to planting a tree for every new client. The trees are planted as part of a reforestation programme coordinated by the charity, Trees For Life.  Read more about our Buy One Get One Tree policy.
  • We offer free sustainability advice for SME’s – Naturesave commercial clients are provided with an environmental help-desk, known as the Sustainability Service. Funded by the Naturesave Trust, the service helps businesses become more sustainable by tackling an array of needs and issues. These can relate to creating net zero plans, measuring carbon footprints or just help in understanding the climate and nature crisis and how it relates to their organisation. The service an also advise on what legislation clients need to be aware of and help communicate these issues to employees, customers and stakeholders.
  • We reward customers for sustainable living – Eco discounts are available for our Home insurance customers for energy efficient practices within the home, such as cavity wall & loft insulation, double glazing, energy efficient appliances, water butts and for domestic renewable energy systems. Learn more about our ethical home insurance.
  • We support the charity sector – Naturesave support charities, not-for-profit organisations, community groups and start-ups, through the provision of pro bono insurance and business advice. We also financially support these where possible through the provision of grants and share purchases.

Insurance and climate change – Unlocking the unparalleled potential of the insurance industry;

Naturesave believe that the insurance industry, through its underwriting and investments, is uniquely placed change the world for the better by divesting from fossil fuels and embracing the environmental impact of risks within to its core underwriting philosophies.  Positive change is certainly underway however more urgent action is needed if global emissions are to brought into line with the Paris Agreement. It is critical to note that reaching Net Zero by 2050, requires emissions to be more than halved by 2030 (from 2010 levels). Insurers have unparalleled influence on limiting global warming.

We continue to lobby our underwriters to;

  • Align their businesses with the Paris Agreement and a 1.5 degree increase in global temperatures
  • Not invest in or provide underwriting services for, any company that has not produced plans to wind down fossil fuel operations in accordance with the above
  • Cease investments in, and underwriting of, any new fossil fuel extraction (including exploration and associated infrastructure)
  • Measure and publish all direct and indirect emissions relating to investment and underwriting activity
  • Develop detailed plans to achieve net zero by 2050 (including halving emissions by 2030)

Naturesave’s ultimate aim is to sell insurance that is 100% fossil fuel free.  This would mean that the insurer/underwriter did not invest in fossil fuel companies or insure fossil fuel assets.

You can read more about this in our report, The Insurance Industry’s Climate Change Challenge.