Naturesave Insurance

Influenced and inspired by Anita Roddick, the founder of the Body Shop. The company and the charitable trust, were set up by ex-Lloyd’s insurance broker Matthew Criddle, on the premise that probabilistic assessments of the future would become harder to establish as global warming and climate change directly affect the insurance industry’s ability to meet climate related insurance losses.

Naturesave is based in Totnes, the founding town of the Transition Towns network.

Naturesave was the first UK insurance provider to use insurance as a vehicle to promote sustainable development with environmental and conservationist projects being funded directly from the premiums, the provision of Environmental audits for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and creating greater awareness in the insurance industry of the risks of ignoring climate change, pollution and environmental damage. In 2014/15, Naturesave became specialists in community renewable energy insurance and produced a Handy Tips for Community Renewable Energy Groups

In 2011, Naturesave received The Queen's Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development (Environmental Achievement) (2011) being the first insurance provider ever to win the award in this category. In 2016, Naturesave was awarded the Community Energy Funding Award, by Community Energy England.

The Naturesave Trust. is the charitable arm of Naturesave Insurance and was set up in 1995 to fund specific environmental and conservationist projects in the UK. The Trust also funds community renewable energy projects and environmental surveys for Naturesave Insurance commercial clients. The aim of the Trust is to encourage the greater adoption of sustainable development

Projects funded by The Naturesave Trust in 2013/14:

• Sheringham Woodfields School – Operation Garden Kickstart
• Littlehempston Community Pub
• National Star College – Camping Pods
• Totnes Development Trust – Gardening for Health
• Sutton Community Farm
• Alcet Close Nursery School
• Cambrian Railways Orchard Project
• Transition Town Lewes
• Grangehurst Primary School
• Quadrangle Trust
• Conservation Foundation
• Scottish Crofting Federation
• Shropshire Council – Action for Sustainability
• New Caledonian Woodlands
• Marine Stewardship Council – Fish and Kids
• Sustrans – The Dartmoor Way
• Scottish Seabird Centre – SOS Puffin
• Dorset Wildlife Trust – Saving Dorset’s Bats
• Community Food Initiatives North East
• Suffolk Owl Sanctuary
• Findhorn Foundation – Park Edible Landscape
• Great Oaks Small School
• The Kindling Trust – FarmStart Tractor

Renewable Energy Projects Funded in 2013/14:

• Green Fox Community Energy Co-op – John Cleveland College Community Woodheat Co-operative
• Cholsey Pavilion
• The New Art Exchange – Renewable Excellence
• Illston Village Hall – Solar Panels
• Strathaird Community HEP (Hydro)
• Neen Sollars Community Hydro
• Whittlesford Memorial Hall
• West Solent Solar
• Core50 – Bat Survey for Community Wind Turbine
• Egni
• Fitzmaurice Primary School Solar Panels