Insurance Overview
Insurance companies supply services to a wide variety of customers, from everyday consumers to large corporations.
But do they have guidelines or policies as to who they will and won't insure? Do green and ethical considerations feature in insurance companies' risk assessments?
Might they, for example, offer coverage to munitions factories or companies with significant operations in countries with oppressive regimes? Or might they insure others with poor labour or environmental records?
Green and ethical insurance products
Green and ethical insurance products
For home, motor, travel, life and health insurance, there is a small but growing number of green and ethical insurance products available. A selection is below:
- Co-operative Insurance
Insurance type: home, motor, life and health
This provider has a comprehensive ethical engagement policy in place that governs all its insurance decisions. The Co-op's 'ecoinsurance' scheme offers cash incentives as well as environmental pledges. It offsets the equivalent of 20 per cent of the CO2 from every vehicle insured and also offers premium discounts for greener cars. - Climate Sure
Insurance type: travel
Climate Sure calculates the CO2 produced by flying overseas and pays for it to be 'offset' by funding sustainable energy projects. - Green Insurance Company
Insurance type: motor
This provider aims to offset your car's carbon emissions and offers discounts on greener cars/lower mileage. - Naturesave
Insurance types: home, travel, personal accident and illness
This company puts 10% of its personal insurance premiums in a fund (Naturesave Trust) to benefit environmental and conservation projects. It also offers a free environmental performance review for commercial clients and aims to use suppliers that support sustainable business practices. - Ansvar Insurance Co Ltd
Insurance types: home, motor, travel
Insurance is sold to individuals and organisations with a not-for-profit remit.
Your next steps
What do you do now? Check out our guide Next Steps - Insurance for suggestions on how to give your insurance policies a green and ethical makeover as well as the questions you should be asking your current or prospective insurance provider.
Insurance Search
Insurance Provider
Bradford & Bingley
Green/Ethical Products
None
Ethical Lending or Insurance
The bank does not lend commercially.
Responsible Lending
Bradford & Bingley no longer offers either mortgage or personal loan products.
Financial Exclusion
Bradford & Bingley does not provide any specific products or services for the financially excluded, however its savings accounts are technically open to all.
It has supported credit unions in the Aire Valley, West Yorkshire, both financially and with the provision of staff.
The bank also makes some access provisions, including:
- Induction loops in all branches
- Improved wheelchair access and power assisted doors across the branch network
- Interpretation services for deaf customers on request
- Typetalk
- Literature provided in formats including Braille, audio and large print
- In some local communities with a high concentration of non-native English speakers, the bank has recruited staff who can speak relevant languages
The bank is not involved in any microfinance projects nor does it provide preferential lending in deprived communities.
Environment
Bradford & Bingley’s environment policy and reporting shows a commitment to energy efficiency and waste management plus a long term commitment to improved environmental performance.
Carbon Neutral
The bank’s operations have been carbon neutral since January 2007.
Equal Opportunities
The bank’s policy addresses the key issues of gender, race, disability and sexuality.
Women on the Board
The bank reports a figure of 9.09% (2007).
Charitable Giving
The bank donated 0.53% of its pre-tax profits in 2007.
Bradford & Bingley
- Savings
- Mortgages (services for existing customers only)
- Insurance (Home, Motor, Travel, Family)
Bradford & Bingley
Bradford & Bingley plc
PO BOX 88
Croft Road
Crossflatts
Bingley
West Yorkshire
BD16 2UA
