Sustainability emerges as a key focus for commercial collision repair centers. Body shops face new expectations around environmental accountability, operational efficiency, and worker wellbeing as the industry grows from $12.43 billion in 2024 to an estimated $19.25 billion by 2031, according to industry reports. 

Sustainability and productivity are closely linked in this evolving landscape. Shops that adapt can improve their environmental footprint, attract skilled workers and increase profitability.

Keep Pace with Environmental Standards

In the years ahead, commercial body shops will face increased expectations for environmental accountability. These requirements are not all driven by regulation. 

Corporations with multinational operations adhering to ambitious sustainability goals set a high bar across regions and within their value chains. European regulations, for example, often lead the way with stringent environmental standards that many companies adopt globally to streamline compliance. 

For North American body shops, regardless of local laws, there's an industry-wide trend toward greater transparency in emissions and environmental impact.

Let's address two primary factors that drive this trend. 

First, the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a collaboration that helps companies and financial institutions set science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is gaining traction, with more than 9,000 companies committing to reduce their emissions. 

The initiative develops standards, tools and guidance which allow companies to set scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. As part of scope 3 downstream emissions reduction initiatives, paint manufacturers increasingly collaborate with customers to lower emissions through product innovations and process improvements.

Second, large corporations now acquire and operate more collision centers, shifting the industry toward consolidated ownership. 

Public company investors demand stronger sustainability practices from these corporate-owned repair facilities. As part of larger corporate entities, body shops are more likely to be asked for emissions reporting and impact metrics as part of these companies' sustainability commitments. Whether mandated by regulation or corporate policy, body shops will increasingly be expected to meet new sustainability benchmarks to compete.

Another trend is the involvement of insurers. Many insurance companies, particularly in Europe, now demand emissions metrics as part of repair estimates. Body shops equipped to provide emissions data may gain a competitive edge in securing insurer-preferred contracts.

Boost Productivity and Manage Emissions

Sustainability is more than compliance—it’s an opportunity to drive efficiency. 

Body shops can reduce their environmental footprint and realize cost savings by focusing on productivity. Take, for example, life cycle assessments (LCA), a method used to calculate the environmental impact of a product from the beginning of its life (material sourcing and production) to its end (application and disposal). 

For body shops, understanding the full life cycle impact of their processes can help identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption, waste, and emission at every step. Body shops that minimize paint overspray or use energy-efficient curing methods can significantly cut costs and waste.

Innovative tools like digital color-matching systems can streamline processes, enhance material accuracy, and reduce paint waste. Collision centers that adopt these technologies have reported productivity boosts of more than 10%, demonstrating how sustainability and operational improvements go hand in hand.

Safer, More Efficient Workspaces to Attract Talent

Commercial body shops face ongoing shortages of skilled workers and compete with other sectors to attract and retain talent. The workplace environment can play a significant role in talent satisfaction and productivity. Low-volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or waterborne coatings, coupled with advanced air filtration systems, can create cleaner, safer environments for commercial body shops. These upgrades make shops more attractive to skilled technicians in a competitive labor market.

Invest in Tomorrow

The path to sustainability offers commercial collision centers a way to align with industry trends while driving profitability. 

Practical steps like minimizing paint overspray, using energy-efficient curing methods and adopting advanced tools such as digital color-matching systems can help shops reduce operating costs while meeting sustainability goals. Commercial shops that invest in these changes can enhance operations and their work environment to position themselves for long-term resilience and growth.

Anurag Raj is PPG's Customer Sustainability Business Partner for the Refinish business. He leads and supports PPG's and its customers' sustainability targets. To learn more about how PPG helps clients make choices that align with their sustainability goals, visit here. For more on PPG refinish, see here.