Helping to create a circular economy with sustainable repair
NN Group recognises that repair, rather than replacement, can significantly reduce environmental impact and GHG emissions, conserve resources and support a circular economy. We are committed to advancing sustainable repair practices in the insurance industry in order to limit our negative impact on the real economy. Repairing damaged items through our sustainable repair network extends the life of products, reduces waste and cuts demand for new materials.
NN Non-life’s Sustainable Repair Policy defines the scope and objectives of sustainable repair, as well as identifying the related material impacts, risks and opportunities. Michel van Leuven, Project Lead Sustainable Repair: ‘We aim to bring sustainable repair to the doorstep of our customers and to continue to increase the percentage of retail property repairs carried out by our sustainable repair network. In this way we can make a real-world impact, both on the lives of our customers and on the circular economy.’
Sustainable repair network
We aim to further develop our sustainable repair network in the Netherlands and upgrade the quality of the circular techniques it uses. The aim is to not only support the reduction of waste through the repair and reuse of products but also to promote the use of renewable resources and sustainable practices. We also want to include additional sustainable measurements such as CO₂ avoidance, and metrics related to the different stages of the circular economy once we have access to relevant data and calculation methods. In 2024, for example, we engaged the Impact Institute to conduct a life-cycle assessment for countertops and kitchen cabinets, comparing repair with replacement. These types of studies provide valuable input for how we implement our strategy.
Spot repair and electronics recovery
Spot repair is one approach we have adopted in our repair and recovery process. It is often associated with vehicle repair but can also be used for property. It basically means carrying out the repair where the damage occurs. We regard it as a key activity, contributing to CO₂ avoidance. We also collaborate with companies that repair electronic devices to avoid replacement where possible. These partners form part of our sustainable repair network. Our guiding principle is that if damage to a mobile electronic device cannot be repaired, the client is offered a refurbished device. If the client does not want this, they can opt for a cash settlement.
Making sustainable repair the norm
Our sustainable repair network is accessible to all business lines and used most actively across our retail portfolio. We are also investing in internal and external communication to raise awareness about the network among colleagues and customers and to encourage them to use it. And as our claims process becomes increasingly digital in nature, sustainable repair is also becoming the standard in our Straight Through Processing (STP) claim handling.
You can read more about our climate activities and ambitions for all areas of our business in our latest Climate Action Plan and on our website.
