It is well established that vehicles powered by fossil fuels are among the primary contributors to carbon emissions, producing particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and greenhouse gases that affect both the climate and public health. For insurers whose field operations involve frequent customer visits, whether for claims inspections, loss adjusting, or property surveys, these journeys represent a measurable and manageable component of the organisation’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon footprint.
There are several lower-carbon alternatives available. Cycling is the least carbon-intensive form of travel and is well suited to urban visits within a short radius. A cycle-to-work scheme can support uptake at relatively low cost. For longer distances, electric vehicles produce no direct emissions at the point of use, and where the electricity supply is sourced from renewable generation the lifecycle footprint is substantially lower than a conventional petrol or diesel fleet. Research suggests electric cars are approximately 4.5 times more energy-efficient than large SUV vehicles. Hybrid vehicles offer a middle ground, combining a combustion engine with electric capability and producing lower emissions than conventional alternatives, though not eliminating them. For longer journeys between offices or regional hubs, rail travel typically produces significantly lower emissions per passenger than a solo car journey and should be the default where journey time allows.
Reducing travel frequency is as important as changing the mode of transport. Virtual claims handling, where initial inspections are conducted remotely using photo or video submissions from policyholders, can substantially reduce the number of physical visits required without compromising assessment quality. For insurers who have not yet integrated virtual triage into their claims journey, transport fleet improvements are likely to deliver only partial gains on their sustainability objectives.
The most effective approach combines a shift in fleet composition, a clear policy on when physical visits are necessary, and the data infrastructure to track and report on the emissions outcomes across the full claims operation.
Related reading
Reducing the number of physical customer visits is one of the most direct ways to lower the travel footprint this article describes, and virtual claims handling is the mechanism that makes it operationally viable at scale. Our article on virtual claims handling and its impact on cycle times and costs sets out how remote photo and video assessment works in practice, what the cycle time and cost implications are for motor and property insurers, and how the technology integrates with existing claims systems to reduce both travel emissions and handling costs simultaneously.
How Procurato can help
Translating a commitment to lower-carbon field operations into a consistent, measurable outcome requires the right policies, supplier agreements, and data frameworks to be in place across the claims operation. Our Sustainable Procurement across the Supply Chain service helps insurers build exactly that: reviewing current fleet and supplier arrangements for environmental performance, identifying where lower-carbon alternatives are commercially viable, and putting in place the reporting infrastructure that turns sustainability objectives into something demonstrable to regulators, investors, and customers. If you want to understand where your current operations stand against your ESG commitments, we are happy to start that conversation.
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