Looking for ethical home insurance is about more than protecting your property. For many people, it is also about making sure their money supports companies that align with their values.
Some insurers are taking steps to reduce fossil fuel exposure, support environmental projects or donate profits to charities and community causes. Others are designing policies specifically for eco homes, renewable energy systems and sustainable living.
If you’ve invested in solar panels, insulation, a heat pump or other energy-saving upgrades, choosing a more responsible insurer can help ensure your cover reflects the way you live.
At a glance: best ethical home insurers in the UK
| Provider | What makes it ethical? | Eco home features | Charity/environment support | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naturesave | Campaigns against fossil fuel investment and supports environmental projects | Covers eco homes, solar panels and biomass boilers as standard | 10% of premiums support environmental projects | Discounts for energy-efficient homes |
| ETA | Environmental organisation focused on sustainable transport | Home insurance available through partner provider | 10% of profits support sustainable transport campaigns | Top ethical ratings from the Good Shopping Guide |
| Ecclesiastical | Owned by the Benefact Group, with profits going to good causes | Specialist cover for churches and community organisations | £200m donated to charities over 10 years | Which? Best Buy for buildings and contents insurance |
| Arma Karma | Flexible insurance model with charitable giving | Covers chosen possessions at home and abroad | Donates 25% of its cut to charity and plants trees | Monthly subscription model |
What makes a home insurer ethical?
There is no official definition of an “ethical insurer”, so it helps to look beyond marketing claims.
Things worth checking include:
- Whether the insurer invests in fossil fuels or other harmful industries
- Its environmental and climate commitments
- How it treats customers and handles claims
- Whether profits support charities or social causes
- Whether it offers cover designed for sustainable or eco-friendly homes
- Transparency around tax practices and corporate structure
Some insurers also offer additional benefits for greener homes, such as cover for solar panels, renewable heating systems or energy-efficient buildings.
Naturesave
Naturesave is one of the best-known ethical insurance providers in the UK and has built its reputation around sustainability.
The company supports environmental and conservation projects through its charity, with 10 per cent of customer premiums helping to fund initiatives focused on nature recovery and climate action.
Naturesave specialises in cover for:
- Eco homes
- Self-build properties
- Timber-framed homes
- Straw bale houses
- Homes with renewable energy systems
Unlike many mainstream insurers, renewable technologies such as solar PV panels and biomass boilers are included as standard.
The company also says it actively pressures insurance partners to move away from underwriting fossil fuel projects, although it acknowledges that its providers still have varying levels of fossil fuel exposure.
Other features include:
- Discounts for energy-efficient homes
- In-house claims handling
- Tree planting for every new policy
- Carbon neutral business operations
Naturesave is now owned by the Benefact Group, whose profits support charitable causes.
Environmental Transport Association (ETA)
Environmental Transport Association, better known as ETA, is an environmentally-focused insurer and campaigning organisation.
While best known for cycling and transport insurance, it also offers home insurance through a partnership arrangement.
ETA has consistently scored highly in ethical rankings from the Good Shopping Guide and has supported campaigns promoting greener transport and cleaner air.
Its environmental initiatives have included Green Transport Week, Car Free Day and Twenty’s Plenty road safety campaigns
Customers can also choose to offset the carbon impact of their policy for an additional monthly fee.
Ecclesiastical Insurance
Ecclesiastical Insurance focuses on insurance for churches, charities and community organisations.
It forms part of the Benefact Group, which says all available profits are given to charities and good causes. The group says it has donated more than £200 million over the past decade.
Ecclesiastical is particularly well known for specialist cover rather than mainstream home insurance, although it has received strong customer ratings and industry recognition, including a Which? Best Buy award for buildings and contents insurance.
The insurer also runs charitable initiatives such as the Movement for Good Awards, which provides funding for charities across the UK.
Arma Karma
Arma Karma takes a slightly different approach to home insurance.
Rather than traditional contents insurance, it allows customers to insure specific possessions through a monthly subscription model. Items are covered both at home and while travelling.
The company positions itself as an ethical alternative by:
- Donating 25 per cent of its share of revenue to charity
- Planting a tree for every new customer
- Supporting carbon reduction initiatives
Arma Karma has also received strong ethical ratings from the Good Shopping Guide.
Can you insure an eco home?
Yes – but not all insurers are equally equipped to deal with eco properties.
Some mainstream insurers may struggle with non-standard construction methods or renewable technologies. That can include:
- Timber-framed homes
- Straw bale construction
- Heat pumps
- Solar panels
- Biomass boilers
- Self-build eco homes
Specialist insurers like Naturesave are often better suited to these types of properties.
Is ethical home insurance more expensive?
Not necessarily.
In some cases, insurers may even offer discounts for energy-efficient homes or sustainable building features.
However, premiums can vary depending on:
- The type of property
- Construction materials
- Renewable energy systems installed
- Rebuild costs
- Claims history
As with any insurance product, it is worth comparing cover levels carefully rather than focusing on price alone.
If you’d like to find out more about the above providers, a Which? membership gives you access to in-depth, expert reviews, ‘Best Buys’ and ‘Don’t Buys.
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