Spies Hecker has provided bodyshops with 5 steps to help them in their efforts to think green and to reduce their energy consumption.

Spies Hecker Brand Manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Joachim Hinz, has addressed the importance of sustainability and offered guidance on what bodyshops can do to improve their environmental sustainability. He comments, “We are at a critical point where businesses must demonstrate environmental awareness in their practices if they want to stay profitable and attractive to today’s environmentally-savvy customer. For bodyshop owners, there are five concrete ways to implement green-thinking.”

Assessment is the first step where bodyshops take stock of the products and practices they employ. This should not only cover materials, but also training, equipment and waste management.

Step 2 concerns the use of low energy products. Hinz says a commitment to improved environmental sustainability can be achieved by opting for products that allow repairs to be carried out with speed and efficiency such as Spies Hecker’s Speed-TEC which makes repairs faster and more energy efficient, by allowing  process times to be cut in half and drying to be achieved at lower temperatures.

Hinz continues, “The third step is all about minimising waste. The less material waste a bodyshop generates, the better it is for the environment and the bottom line. When refinishers are fully trained and well-informed about a product, application is easier and throughput is increased.”

The fourth aspect of environmental sustainability involves disposal of any hazardous waste that is generated. Bodyshops must adhere to local laws and EU regulations on the disposal of the products that they use, not only for the health and safety of their employees but also for the benefit and protection of the environment.

Lastly Spies Hecker stresses that choosing the right partners is also vital. Hinz concludes, “As the saying goes, you are only as good as the company you keep, so it is key for bodyshops to affiliate with organisations that will encourage, support and further their efforts to go green. Today, no business is too large or too small to take stock of its environmental impact.”