Co-operative Insurance Launches National Eco Motor Insurance Campaign

MANCHESTER, England, November 1 -- Co-operative Insurance (CIS) is set to bolster its new 'green' Eco motor insurance by unveiling a GBP1.3million national television communication that will be screened from today (1st November 2006).

The Eco motor insurance campaign will feature images of CIS' innovative Grass covered Car accompanied by the strapline, 'now you can get green car insurance that doesn't cost the earth'.

Fuel consumption is a major contributor of carbon dioxide which is the primary agent for global climate change and to date, travel continues to increase; an extra 55 billion miles were travelled by road vehicles in 2004 compared with 1990(x).

The campaign, created by leading marketing agency Dig For Fire and produced by 3sixty, is designed to make drivers aware of the harmful effects that CO2 emissions have on the environment.

The key campaign message is that there is now a 'green' alternative for drivers - a motor product available from CIS that still enables motorists to drive but, with a clear conscience.

CIS launched the UK's first Eco motor insurance product in July 2006, which contains environmentally friendly features right through from the underwriting to claims stages and also enables customers to have their say in CIS's unique ethical engagement policy.

Responding to the growing demand from consumers for ethically and environmentally sourced products CIS's Eco motor Insurance product includes the following distinctive features:

- Offsetting 20% of CO2 emissions for every vehicle insured under the Eco Insurance product through direct funding by CIS.

- Premium discounts for 'greener' cars.

- Environmental backed claims service.

Owners of those vehicles that do not qualify for the premium discount will still do their bit for climate change, as CIS will agree to offset a percentage of the vehicles CO2 emissions at no extra cost to the customer.

The Eco Insurance product further reinforces CIS's ethical credentials. In addition to being the first insurer in the world to launch an ethical engagement policy in 2005, CIS has recently completed two significant renewable energy projects. It has clad the iconic CIS tower with 7,000 solar panels and established the UK's largest inner city wind farm on another building in central Manchester.

David Newman CIS' Director of Marketing said: "This is a significant campaign designed to make people aware of our alternative 'green' motor insurance policy which offsets harmful CO2 emissions and contributes to the management of the environmental impact throughout the entire journey. Whilst many people accept that motoring is a necessary means of transport many motorists now recognise the environmental impact driving a car has on climate change."

"From our annual Ethical Consumerism Report, it is apparent that more and more consumers are becoming environmentally aware and that influences what they buy, including the purchase of cars. We now have in place a high quality product, delivered by a trusted and ethically guided insurer, that will allow customers to take that choice one step further by insuring their cars with a conscience too".

Notes to Editors:

- ISDN facilities are available for broadcast media interviews.

- (x) Statistics from Department for Transport 2006, Transport Trends 2005.

- Jpegs are available on request.

- Customers wanting more information on Eco Insurance should call 0845-8500160 or visit www.ecoinsurance.co.uk.

For further information contact: Lisa King, Co-operative Financial Services Press Office, Tel: +44(0)161-829-5052, Fax: +44(0)161-829-4590, E-mail: lisa.king@cfs.co.uk