QBE has partnered with seven organisations across its UK claims supply chain to launch what is believed to be the insurance sector’s first collective rewilding consortium, committing to a 50-year investment in nature restoration and carbon removal.
The initiative, known as the QBE Buyers Club, brings together insurers, law firms, claims specialists and service providers to co-invest in the restoration of Boothby Wildland in Lincolnshire, reflecting the insurance industry’s growing focus on climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
The announcement comes as UK insurers continue to face rising claims costs from extreme weather events. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), insurers paid a record £585 million in weather-related home insurance claims during 2024—28% higher than the previous year—following 12 named storms across the 2023/24 season.
Industry-Wide Collaboration
The consortium includes legal firms Clyde & Co, DWF and Keoghs, alongside claims and risk management specialist Sedgwick, Prism Claims Group, accident repair provider FMG, and a national salvage dealer.
Together, the organisations will fund rewilding activities and carbon credit generation at Boothby Wildland, a former intensive agricultural site acquired by rewilding company Nattergal in 2021.
Developed in partnership with Nattergal and carbon credit specialist Nature Broking, the project will support carbon removal across 18 dedicated acres within the wider 600-hectare landscape.
The broader site is expected to generate approximately 25,000 verified carbon credits over the next century under the UK Woodland Carbon Code while restoring wetlands, woodlands and natural habitats. Beavers have already been reintroduced to parts of the site to support river restoration and biodiversity.
Supporting Climate Resilience
QBE said the initiative aligns with its sustainability strategy by addressing climate resilience while encouraging collaboration throughout its supply chain.
Joanna Lloyd-Davies, Head of Sustainability, International at QBE, said the project supports the insurer’s environmental priorities while giving participating organisations a tangible connection to nature restoration.
“This initiative supports all three of our sustainability focus areas: supporting climate resilience and the transition, enabling a resilient workforce and partnering for impact through our value chain. It gives every partner a direct stake in a piece of land they can visit, watch recover and be proud of.”
Responding to Regulatory Expectations
The launch comes as insurers face increasing regulatory expectations around climate risk management.
The Prudential Regulation Authority’s updated Supervisory Statement SS5/25, which came into effect in late 2025, requires insurers to integrate climate-related risks into underwriting, reserving, capital management and governance.
The initiative also aligns with emerging sustainability reporting standards and wider industry efforts to demonstrate measurable environmental outcomes across corporate value chains.
Luke Baldwin, Chief Executive Officer of Nature Broking, said connecting investors directly to restoration projects creates greater engagement and accountability.
“They can visit it, see it change and show their stakeholders something real.”
Nature Restoration as Risk Management
The project is supported by research indicating that rewilding can play a meaningful role in carbon sequestration and ecosystem recovery.
Studies at the UK’s Knepp Estate have shown that rewilded land can store carbon at rates comparable to newly established native woodland while also improving biodiversity and restoring natural water systems.
As insurers increasingly confront the financial impact of climate change, initiatives such as the QBE Buyers Club illustrate how collaboration across the insurance value chain is evolving beyond carbon offsetting towards long-term investments in natural resilience that may ultimately help reduce future catastrophe risks.
