Sedgwick reveals carbon footprint of UK building repairs

The report highlights that repairs following floods or water damage create the most carbon emissions.

Sedgwick, a global leader in claims management, has revealed the carbon emissions linked to domestic building repairs in the UK. According to their research, an average insurance-related repair costs around £8,000 and produces 1,496.6 kg of CO₂e – equivalent to driving a petrol car 9,131 miles.  

Sedgwick’s study also found that for every £7.80 spent on domestic building repairs, 1 kg of CO₂e is produced. This is the first time that the insurance industry has had the capability to accurately measure the carbon cost of such repairs. 

The bigger picture 

The Association of British Insurers reports that home insurance claims in 2023 totalled £2.55 billion. Based on Sedgwick’s data, this means the insurance industry’s total carbon emissions from these repairs reached about 326,504 tonnes of CO₂e. Offsetting these emissions would cost the industry roughly £9.8 million, using current market prices of £30 per tonne. 

Sedgwick’s new carbon value calculator, introduced in December 2023, provided these calculations. The calculator was built to Greenhouse Gas Protocol standards and helps insurers measure carbon emissions from each repair in detail. 

Just a few weeks ago, Claims Media covered a recent report which revealed that 76% of insurers are concerned about the impact of climate change on their business.

High emission repairs and solutions 

The report highlights that repairs following floods or water damage create the most carbon emissions. Sedgwick suggests using eco-friendly materials like hemp insulation and graphene paint, which can reduce emissions by 4.03%. They also found that using methods that require less strip-out work can cut emissions by 30%. 

Peter Wassell, Sedgwick’s UK Technical Director, said: “Knowing the carbon emissions from building repairs is the first step towards reducing them. We now have evidence that sustainable repairs can make a real difference.” 

Neil Gibson, CEO of Sedgwick in the UK, added: “Our carbon calculator is a key part of our plan to support sustainable claims management and help the industry reach net-zero by 2030.” 

Image: Canva  

Josie Geistfeld Josie is an editor for Claims Media. She welcomes feedback, comments, and opinion at josie.geistfeld@barkerbrooks.co.uk