Coachwork Renovations, along established accident repair centre based in Gravesend, in the UK, has demonstrated the potential for bodyshops to reduce their environmental impact by achieving carbon neutral status in accordance with PAS2060.

Since the company was established in 1976, it has always demonstrated a strong commitment to high standards of customer service, safety and more latterly, environmental protection. The management team worked with consultants, ECA Business Energy, to reduce emission.  This involved following international standards, including the World Resource Institutes Green House Gas Protocol and Defra’s GHG reporting guidelines for assessing carbon emissions. 

The practical implications of this meant putting in place a carbon management plan to reduce emissions and setting targets to reduce emissions year on year, on a per job basis. It also meant offsetting the businesses residual emissions through projects verified against the international Verified Carbon Standard, Gold Standard or Certified Emission Reductions. 

While the achievement of carbon neutrality may seem like a distant goal of many repairers, it is something that is now on the agenda of many progressive businesses and is likely to be become widespread within a relatively short number of years. As such is something that should form part of a bodyshop's future business plans.