Following on a successful test of Allstate's green insurance program in Colorado and Ohio, the company has decided to expand the test to eight other states. Those states are Washington, Oregon, Louisiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas. Colorado and Ohio will continue testing through the rest of the year.

The Allstate Green program includes several elements to help the company provide more eco-friendly insurance options for customers, including:

Minimizing paper statements and developing the Allstate Easy Pay Plan which allows for electronic payments.
Incentives for customers willing to use the Easy Pay Plan and otherwise reduce paper use.
Contributions to local environmental projects at no additional cost to customers.

"The positive consumer response to our Colorado and Ohio tests reaffirms our belief in the strategy of designing services and products around the consumer" said Roger Parker, assistant vice president of product innovation in a press release. "Making it easy for customers to save money and help the environment is the ultimate win-win: good for the customer, good for the company and good for the planet."

Allstate's local environmental efforts have been guided by the Nature Conservancy, America's Wetland Foundation and the Arbor Day Foundation. They've focused on conservation and restoration projects affecting the communities testing Allstate Green. In Missouri, for instance, Allstate's contributions will help purchase strategic tracts of land within the Current River watershed. Those tracts will be used for conservation easements for sustainable forestry.

Photo — Allstate