If you’re looking for green car insurance, you’re probably looking for ways to limit your impact on the environment. But, searching for green car insurance brings up a long list of results, some of which are more likely to be “eco-conscious” than others.
Green car insurance is a type of car insurance policy that is designed with the planet in mind and has features that allow you, the policyholder, to reduce your carbon footprint in some form.
But just because a company has “eco” or “green” in its name doesn’t mean it’ll stand up to scrutiny. Greenwashing is pretty rampant nowadays, and we know you’d be disappointed if you shelled out for a new “eco” policy just to find out it wasn’t exactly as advertised.
So how do you work out whether the green car insurance company you’ve come across is actually “green”? Here are a few questions you should ask yourself.
Do the company’s car insurance products address one of your environmental needs?
People nowadays are aware of the impact of climate change on our planet. Most of us want to do something about it when we can. That’s why so many of us are recycling religiously, adopting plant-based diets, and trying to walk and cycle more to save the planet.
And people both need and want sustainable products. Research suggests that more than three quarters of drivers based in the UK want their insurer to be environmentally friendly, and nearly a quarter are willing to pay extra for a policy that’s tangibly eco friendly.
The most wanted eco-friendly features in a green car insurance policy are planting trees and offsetting carbon emissions. But supporting sustainable causes through partnerships and donations are also up there.
At Zixty, for instance, we work closely with Eden Reforestation to plant trees that carbon offset your mileage when you have a policy with us and enable the free Zixty Miles add-on. We also plant a tree on your behalf every time you take out a policy.
But our efforts don’t stop there. We want to help you become a carbon-negative driver. When you drive (if you enable Zixty Miles), we give you an EcoScore from 1 to 10 that tells you how eco-friendly your driving is.
A high EcoScore means you’re driving in an eco-conscious manner. And because we offset your driving based on an average score of 4-6, scoring above a 6 technically makes you a carbon-negative driver.
And if you happen to get a lower score, we offer plenty of tips to help you make your driving more planet friendly so you can achieve a higher score and become a carbon-negative driver.
Has the company adopted eco-conscious working practices?
Green car insurance companies walk the talk, so to speak. This isn’t just evidenced by the products they offer. They also adopt eco-friendly working practices. And we don’t mean replacing the plastic cups at the water cooler with paper cups.
It’s about a larger shift in working practices. For instance, where do the people in the company work? Are they expected to travel to an office every single day? Or is the company remote-first, allowing employees to work from home and limit their carbon emissions as a result?
Transport remains the highest contributor of greenhouse gases in the UK, accounting for 24% of emissions. So companies that give their staff the option to work from home are helping curb this trend.
How is the company helping employees address their own environmental impact?
A green car insurance company that is committed to its sustainability goals is likely to show this through every aspect of its operations.
There are a variety of tools and resources available to people looking to lead a more sustainable life. One such tool is Giki, an app that offers bespoke assessments of a person’s carbon footprint, along with suggestions for reducing it. By providing company access to services like Giki, a green car insurance company can demonstrate its commitment to sustainability in tangible ways.
A company that truly cares about sustainability will take an all-encompassing approach to the issue, not just focus on their products. By working to reduce the environmental impact of their employees and operations, a green car insurance company can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability
What accreditations does the company hold to show they’re “green”?
A car insurance company that is dedicated to sustainability and environmental responsibility should have certifications to show their commitment. Green car insurance companies may hold specific accreditations such as Green Mark, for example.
Gaining this accreditation involves a thorough assessment of the business’s impact on the environment, ensuring that the company is taking necessary steps to reduce their carbon footprint and promote eco-friendly practices. Zixty, for instance, is a Green Mark-accredited business.
After all, any business that is serious about helping the planet should be working towards carbon reduction and neutrality. Once again, it’s all about putting your money where your mouth is.
Is the company working towards B-Corp status?
Certified B-Corps meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B-corps are about long-term value over short-term gains. They’re about creating equity and mitigating their environmental impact.
B-corps exist all over the world across hundreds of industries. The point is to create an “inclusive, equitable and regenerative” world. Think of it as a seal of approval for conscientious businesses that prioritise people and planet over profits.
For green car insurance companies, pursuing the B-Corp certification signifies their commitment to making a meaningful, measurable difference in terms of environmental protection and social responsibility. It shows that they genuinely care about the planet and the communities in which they operate.
Gaining B-corp status isn’t easy. Companies must meet certain criteria in terms of size and profits to qualify. But it’s worth looking for green car insurance companies that are either working towards B-corp status at the very least.
Does the company actively support and promote other businesses involved with environmental causes?
Green companies don’t exist in a vacuum. They know there are other businesses and organisations out there that can help people make a positive impact on the environment.
Because green car insurance companies are designed with the planet in mind, they like to share the work carried out by other eco-friendly businesses. They want people to find worthwhile causes relevant to them, and they use their own platform to amplify these causes.
Here at Zixty, for instance, we spotlight eco-friendly projects like the National Trust’s tree planting initiative and Treeapp.
Choosing the right green car insurance company for you
As you can see, there are so many different ways you can assess whether a green car insurance company is truly making the impact you hope it is.
Ultimately, the right green car insurance company for you will align with your own environmental values. It might choose to support carbon offsetting projects you support, or it might donate to causes you can get behind.
But if you’re looking for a green car insurance company that puts tree planting and carbon offsetting at the forefront of its environmental activities, then you should check out Zixty. You can get a quote in seconds by downloading the Zixty app.
