Our podcast series features ERMI’s Chris Bunbury and Brooks Bunbury breaking down why environmental exposures affect every business—even those that don’t think of themselves as “polluters.”
Environmental Liabilities for Contractors: Claims, Coverage, and CPL Risks
Contractors face environmental risks every time they disturb soil, haul equipment, manage materials, work around underground utilities, or operate on a job site. In this episode of the Environmental Strategist Podcast, presented in partnership with the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance, host Brooks Bunbury talks with Christopher Pell, Senior Underwriting Manager with Intact Insurance, Midwest and Eastern Environmental Division, about the real-world pollution exposures contractors face and how the right environmental insurance coverage can help close critical gaps. From mold claims and asbestos-contaminated demolition debris to underground gas line explosions, fuel spills, liquid asphalt releases, stormwater runoff, vapor intrusion, illicit dumping, and aging underground storage tanks, this conversation highlights why environmental liability is not limited to “environmental contractors.” Any contractor touching land, air, water, or soil may face pollution exposures that are often excluded or limited under standard general liability, property, or commercial auto policies.
Environmental Exposures Impacting High Net Worth Insureds
Brooks and Chris Bunbury of Environmental Risk Managers, Inc. are back for Episode 3 of the Environmental Strategist podcast series, and this time they’re diving into the environmental risks impacting high net worth individuals,many of which go unnoticed until it’s too late. Chris and Brooks explore why high net worth (HNW) insureds are true industry disruptors, with complex assets, exposures, and expectations that traditional insurance models weren’t built to handle. Through real-world examples, from marina fuel spills and paper mill emissions to high profile environmental fines, they illustrate how environmental losses can escalate quickly, creating not only financial damage but also reputational fallout. They break down the wide range of environmental exposures HNW clients face across aircraft, yachts, luxury homes, ranches, vacant land, and business ventures, and explain why standard personal and commercial policies often leave major gaps, resulting in many clients unknowingly self-insuring significant risks. Be sure to check out our High Net Worth Playbook!
EFA Essentials: What Every Insurance Professional Must Know
Episode 2 explores Environmental Financial Assurance (EFA)—what it is, why it exists, and why it matters more than ever in today’s economic and regulatory environment. Chris and Brooks trace the origins of EFA back to Superfund and federal regulation, explain how contracts and indemnification provisions often leave companies unknowingly self insuring, and break down why insurance is frequently the most practical solution for meeting EFA requirements. They also explore real world use cases across construction, real estate, M&A, and high net worth exposures, clarify common coverage mistakes, and explain how the right EFA strategy can protect balance sheets, reputations, and long term business value.
Environmental Strategist Podcast: Why We’re Here
In this premiere episode, host Mitch Dunford explore why environmental and pollution exposures affect every business—and why so many organizations unknowingly self‑insure due to gaps in standard insurance policies. Chris and Brooks break down what really counts as a “pollutant,” share eye‑opening claim stories, and explain how Environmental Strategists help businesses proactively manage risk, avoid litigation, and turn environmental stewardship into a competitive advantage.
Upcoming episodes of our podcast will explore environmental insurance products in detail, examine various classes of business and their unique exposures, and provide practical insights for navigating today’s environmental risk landscape. Stay tuned & be sure to subscribe on YouTube through the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance.