Global travel is booming again, with record numbers of people expected to head abroad this summer. But while holidays offer a chance to unwind, they also come with an environmental cost. From the flights we take to the hotels we stay in, tourism is putting growing pressure on the planet and local communities.
A Nature Climate Change study estimates that tourism now accounts for around eight per cent of global carbon emissions, with transport alone responsible for nearly half of that figure. As travellers become more aware of their impact, many are looking for ways to make their trips a little kinder to the world they explore.
One easy place to start is with your travel insurance. Some insurers now go beyond covering medical mishaps and lost luggage – they’re helping to protect the planet and its people, too.
Here are our top four ethical travel insurers in 2025.
Naturesave
Naturesave has long been a pioneer in ethical insurance, channelling 10 per cent of every premium into its charity, The Naturesave Trust. The trust funds grassroots environmental projects across the UK, offers sustainability advice to small businesses and even plants a tree for every policy sold.
The Totnes-based broker also practises what it preaches. Its staff are rewarded for avoiding air travel, with up to four extra days of paid leave when they choose to travel overland instead. This “no-fly days” scheme inspired the wider Climate Perks campaign, encouraging other businesses to offer similar incentives.
Naturesave is also outspoken about reforming the insurance sector itself, lobbying for divestment from fossil fuels through its “‘Campaign for Divestment.”
Its travel insurance can be bought as a standalone policy or as part of its home insurance package. Trips can last up to 60 days, with winter sports cover available for up to 17 days.
Policies are underwritten by AXA, which Naturesave regards as one of the more progressive large insurers thanks to its moves to divest from fossil fuel assets and refusal to insure new fossil fuel projects. However, AXA’s record remains mixed – the firm has faced criticism for investments linked to arms manufacturers and human rights issues.
In 2022, Naturesave became part of Lloyd & Whyte, a broker within the Benefact Group. The group is owned by a charity, and all profits are distributed to good causes, with investments handled by respected sustainable specialists EdenTree.
World Nomads
World Nomads captures its ethos with a quote from Anita Roddick of The Body Shop: “If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito.” The company believes travel can be a force for good – and puts that belief into practice.
When you buy a policy, you can choose to add a small “micro donation” to support community and conservation projects in the places you visit. The company absorbs all administrative costs so that 100 per cent of your donation goes directly to the project.
World Nomads partners with respected global charities including Oxfam, WaterAid, Save the Children and the Sea Turtle Conservancy. Since 2004, it has donated around £3 million to over 278 projects worldwide.
It also offers a Responsible Travel Guide and a library of practical articles on how to explore more sustainably.
In the UK, World Nomads policies are underwritten by Collinson Insurance, trading as Astrenska Insurance Limited.
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Evergreen Insurance Services
Evergreen Insurance Services takes a refreshing approach to insurance by pledging to share its profits with nature. When you buy a travel insurance policy through Evergreen, the firm donates up to 25 per cent of its commission to a wildlife or environmental charity of your choice. The longer you stay with Evergreen, the greater the share it gives.
Customers can choose from a panel of 25 charities working across wildlife conservation, reforestation, waste reduction and education. This direct link between policyholders and charities makes Evergreen stand out in a traditionally profit-driven industry.
The company partners with Sun World and Just Travel Cover for travel insurance. Sun World is underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance SA UK Branch (part of the AXA Group) and Just Travel Cover is underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE.
Evergreen also offers home, pet, car, gadget and life insurance – giving customers more ways to make their protection purposeful.
Responsible Travel
Known for its commitment to sustainable tourism, Responsible Travel has joined forces with Columbus Direct to create an insurance product that allows customers to save money and support good causes at the same time.
When you take out a policy, you receive a 20 per cent discount on normal Columbus rates. You can choose to keep the full discount, donate it all to charity, or split it half-and-half.
The charities supported include the World Cetacean Alliance, Elephant Family, All Out Africa Foundation and Surfers Against Sewage. Responsible Travel also screens every trip it sells for its social and environmental impact, clearly showing the positive outcomes on each holiday page.
In addition, for every booking, the company funds a day out for a child from a disadvantaged background, helping more young people experience the joy of travel.
