BASF Coatings: Initiative for sustainability criteria in the automotive refinish industry

BASF Coatings' initiative is intended to meet the growing demand for sustainable accident repair solutions. The standard will be based on verifiable criteria and create a uniform benchmark. This will provide bodyshops with a guideline for acting more sustainably and preparing for increasing legal requirements, such as CO2 emission reports. "We are currently seeing that sustainability is becoming very important within our industry. However, there is a lack of standardized instruments to map the topic holistically. At BASF, we actively promote sustainability with our products and digital solutions and enable our customers to make valid and responsible decisions. By using sustainable technologies and materials, companies can save energy and CO2, reduce their own costs and contribute to reducing waste," says Dr. Rahel Reichmann, Head of Sustainability, BASF Global Automotive Refinish Coatings Solutions. Initial discussions on the criteria for an industry-wide, independent sustainability standard have already taken place in 2023 with relevant stakeholders in the industry. The standard is based on a catalog of quantitative and qualitative criteria from the areas of ecology, economy and social issues. These criteria are used to assess the sustainability level of the body shops. Aspects such as the reduction of CO2 emissions, the efficient and profitable handling of waste and resources during the car repair process and the creation of economic and social value are considered to ensure that bodyshops can position themselves successfully in the long term. BASF has already started testing these criteria with pilot workshops in Germany.

In February 2024, relevant industry representatives will come together for a meeting at TÜV Rheinland in Cologne. The aim is to agree on a common approach for an independent standard within the entire car repair industry that works for all players. The starting point is the German market, with the aim of subsequently rolling out the standard across Europe and then possibly worldwide. "It is important for us to obtain a meaningful overall picture in the demanding selection of criteria, which is above all practicable for the companies. This clear demand comes from the industry - and we are hoping for other interested partners who want to help shape this task," says Dr. Markus Piepenbrink, Global Sustainability at BASF Coatings. At the same time, BASF Coatings will test the sustainability criteria as part of its digital workshop platform "Body Shop BOOST" with customers and partners in the pilot countries of Switzerland and Austria. The pilot is intended to show where body shops currently stand in terms of their sustainability level and provide insights to further develop and adjust the criteria of the planned sustainability standard.