The Assessor Mag Autumn 2024 Web - Flipbook - Page 33
JOURNAL
GREEN PARTS
SYNETIQ
GREEN PARTS
New study highlights environmental bene昀椀ts of
repairing damaged vehicles with green parts.
study commissioned
by VRA Certi昀椀cation
in collaboration with
certi昀椀ed recycler
SYNETIQ, an IAA
company, has con昀椀rmed the signi昀椀cant
environmental advantages of repairing
damaged vehicles using green parts
sourced in the UK.
A
The study titled "Repair, Reuse, or
Replace," was also in association
with Allianz SE, Oakdene Hollins, and
Metsims Environmental Consulting.
It details how the repair of damaged
vehicles using green parts is a more
climate-friendly alternative to the use
of newly manufactured replacement
parts.
Building on previous studies by Allianz
and SYNETIQ, the research sought to
validate the assumption that repairing
damaged vehicles with locally sourced
green parts results in lower emissions
compared to replacing them with new
parts.
The study focused on four of the most
commonly damaged exterior vehicle
parts: the front bumper, bonnet,
headlight, and front door. These
components were subjected to four
different repair scenarios to determine
the impact on CO2 emissions:
1. Repairing the part in situ at a repair
shop.
2. Replacing the part with a new
component manufactured in Europe.
3. Replacing the part with a green part
salvaged from an end-of-life vehicle
in the UK.
4. Replacing the part with a new
component manufactured in Asia.
The 昀椀ndings of the study con昀椀rm
that using green parts for vehicle
repairs signi昀椀cantly reduces carbon
emissions compared to using newly
manufactured parts (up to 177 kg CO2e
saving per repair). The environmental
bene昀椀ts increase the heavier the
replacement part used due to the high
embodied emissions associated with
their production.
Among the scenarios analysed,
replacing damaged parts with
new ones was identi昀椀ed as the
least favourable option in terms of
emissions.
The study underscores the substantial
CO2 savings that could be achieved
through a combined approach at
UK vehicle body shops, including
greater repair of parts, increased use
of green parts, adoption of renewable
energy sources, and reduced energy
consumption. The report estimates that
implementing these strategies could
result in emission savings exceeding 1
billion kg CO2e per year across the UK.
Michael Hill, Green Parts Director at
SYNETIQ said: “This study provides
clear evidence that the repair and
reuse of vehicle parts should be the
way forward to reduce the automotive
industry’s environmental footprint.
Through the use of green parts and
sustainable practises, we can make
an impact on reducing emissions and
contribute to the 昀椀ght against climate
change.”
Chas Ambrose, Director at VRA
Certi昀椀cation, said: “I’m really pleased
that we’ve had the opportunity to work
on this project with such illustrious
colleagues. This report extends the
previous Allianz work assessing the
bene昀椀ts of alternatives to simply ‘昀椀tting
new’.
“The con昀椀rmation that the use
of green parts in vehicle repairs
delivers signi昀椀cant emissions savings,
compared to the use of new parts,
does not come as a great surprise to
me. Nor that the more green parts
that are used, the greater the emission
savings.
www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor | AUTUMN 2024 | THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL
“However, what this particular study
also highlights is the truly enormous
scale of national and international
emission savings that are achievable
through a more integrated approach
to the repair of damaged vehicles,
encompassing more part repair and
more part reuse.
“I believe this report is very timely,
with the current focus on Net Zero,
the circular economy and forthcoming
legislative changes relating to vehicle
lifetime circularity.”
JOURNAL
The full report is available for review
at www.vracerti昀椀cation.org.uk/
wp-content/uploads/2024/09/
ODH-report-19-08-24-EU.pdf
ABOUT VRA CERTIFICATION
VRA Certi昀椀cation:
• An independent not-for-pro昀椀t
company, set up by the Vehicle
Recyclers’ Association in 2020.
The sole purpose is to manage,
develop and promote the UK’s
Vehicle Recycler Certi昀椀cation
Scheme.
• Certi昀椀es UK-based vehicle
recyclers to ensure they conform
with the ‘UK Standard for
Reclaimed Parts from End-Of
Life Vehicles’. This provides their
customers with the con昀椀dence
that the vehicle recycler operates
legally and only markets quality
assured reclaimed vehicle parts.
• Works with two
nationally-recognised certi昀椀cation
bodies, who scrutinise a vehicle
recycler’s policies and procedures,
and audit each recycler annually.
This provides an independent,
objective assessment of
conformance.
You can 昀椀nd out more about VRA
Certi昀椀cation, the certi昀椀cation
process and certi昀椀ed recyclers at
www.vracerti昀椀cation.org.uk
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