Increasing client exposures & awareness point to opportunities for brokers to strengthen their positions with clients & increase their revenue.
Environmental exposures have been amplified by a tougher legal environment throughout the EU which introduced new concepts such as damage to biodiversity and more stringent clean-up requirements. This means that even though businesses’ operations may not have changed, their potential environmental liabilities have increased.
Businesses in all industries and of all sizes face environmental liabilities. Obligations for both companies and competent authorities point towards an increase in both number and costs of environmental claims – which combined with attention from the media, have encouraged greater awareness of environmental issues by businesses, investors and customers.
Brokers who are able to have meaningful conversations about environmental insurance with clients are able to differentiate themselves from competing brokers who may not have the same degree of risk and product knowledge. This has exciting possibilities for new business and retention strategies and reaffirms brokers’ position as valued and informed risk advisors.
Following an environmental incident, individuals also face the possibility of personal actions. In fact, some local regulations might hold directors and managers personally liable for the damages. It is worth emphasising the complexity of environmental risks and the high importance of EIL insurance to the directors and managers deciding on the business’ insurance coverages.
Countries have different local environmental legislation and have adopted the European directive on environmental liability in different ways – in several (Spain, Portugal, Slovakia and Czech Republic for example) businesses may need to demonstrate that they have financial assurance in place for their environmental exposures (such as a locally issued EIL policy) in order to operate in that country.
If some clients are dismissive of environmental insurance, this short animation outlines 9 reasons why they might want to give it more serious consideration.
A rapid video summary of top features and benefits
All the Key sales Themes, Target Market, Cover and Claims Scenarios in your pocket and accessable from any phone. Ideal for on-the-go meeting preparation.
A guide to our Environmental Risk Appetite and key underwriting 'sweet spots' to help with assessing the opportuniies.