Zurich adds 24/7 environmental emergency response service to UK policies

Zurich Insurance has launched a new 24/7 environmental emergency response service for UK-written policies, giving commercial customers access to specialist clean up support following spills and environmental incidents. 

The Zurich Environmental Emergency Response (ZEER) programme is being added to existing environmental insurance cover at no additional cost for policies written by Zurich’s UK team.

The insurer said the service, which has been available to North American customers for the past 15 years, will also be expanded to additional commercial policies over the coming months.

ZEER is delivered in partnership with Spill Center, which coordinates the deployment of vetted contractors globally depending on the type and location of an incident.

The service is designed to support incidents requiring emergency environmental clean up, including fuel spills and chemical leaks, with the aim of limiting environmental, financial and reputational damage.

Customers can report incidents through a dedicated app or by phone, with support available around the clock.

Global contractor network

Once notified of an incident, ZEER can search a database of around 3,700 specialist contractors worldwide to identify response teams.

The programme also monitors clean up operations in real time and supports customers with regulatory reporting requirements, including notifications to local authorities and environmental agencies where necessary.

Clive Walker, global head of environmental impairment liability at Zurich, said his firm was “delighted” to introduce the service to UK customers without additional upfront costs.

He said: “Offering ZEER will make things easier for our commercial clients when something unexpected happens and helps guard against both the environmental and reputational impact of incidents by ensuring they’re tackled quickly and expertly.”

Spill Center’s expertise had already been used extensively by Zurich customers in the US and Canada.

As the service has only recently launched, there are not yet any UK examples of it being used. However, Zurich pointed to a 2023 incident in Philadelphia, where the service supported the clean up of a major diesel spill following a fuel tanker crash near the I-95, including the rescue of more than 30 waterfowl threatened by contamination.