The first environmental car insurance
Posted by DavidM in Buying green | 4 August 2006
There are many things to buy that I imagine could do with an environmentally-friendly version, but I have to admit car insurance wasn't the first to spring to mind.
However, I noticed a full-page ad in my Sunday paper for Co-operative Insurance's eco-insurance - what they claim is the world's first eco-friendly car insurance.
Looking at the site I'm pleased they acknowledge up-front that cars aren't very sustainable. There are 3 ways they have made the insurance eco-ish.
- offseting 20% of the average car's CO2 emissions by investing in projects like reforestation, renewable energy sources and third world education schemes
- giving a 10% discount for cars in tax band A (emitting less than 100g of CO2 per kilometre)
- and the one I think has the most real impact - using an eco-friendly repair network that recycles materials like used oil and old bumpers
They have taken the eco theme beyond the offer on the website with a calculator to work out your car's CO2 emissions (which didn't work when I tried it) and a few short tips on greener driving.
It's not everything I'd like from an eco offer, but it's more green than you'll get anywhere else and it's another step in the right direction. Well done CIS.
