The auto collision repair industry is changing quickly in order to address consumer’s demand for environmentally sensitive products.
Issues such as greenhouse gases, skyrocketing energy costs and global warming are motivating consumers to be more conscious of their own footprint on the environment.
One of the primary suppliers to the collision repair industry is PPG. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa. and operates in nearly 70 countries around the world. PPG had revenue over $15.2 billion in 2012.
According to PPG’s Corporate Sustainability Commitment, “PPG recognizes the importance of providing products that meet the needs of markets in the context of climate change and increased energy cost, as well as enabling the overall benefit of reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas generation.”
A key element in collision repair is the process of applying paint. Traditionally, the process required the utilization of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.
According to the U.S. Geological Service, “VOCs are compounds of fuels, solvents, hydraulic fluids, paint thinners, and dry-cleaning agents commonly used in urban settings. VOC contamination of drinking water supplies is a human-health concern because many are toxic and are known or suspected human carcinogens.”
A recent industry shift to waterborne application is an effective solution for lowering VOC emissions —improving air quality and the environment. Waterborne paint is a water based paint system, chosen frequently over traditional solvent-based paint.
Although PPG first introduced waterborne paint applications in 1986, until recently it has received a lukewarm reception in the U.S. According to Tasco AutoColor, PPG’s largest U.S. based distributor, over 4,000 collision repair shops have made the switch to waterborne.
Mark Kauffman, owner and general manager of a Maaco Auto Body and Paint franchise in downtown Minneapolis, Minn., made the change for multiple reasons.
“In addition to the reduced VOCs to the atmosphere, waterborne paint has superior color matching capabilities over its solvent-based counterparts,” he said. “My customers tell me they feel better about a more environmentally-friendly product being used on their cars”.
“The use of waterborne products has cut our waste products in half,” said Kauffman. “It’s a wiser choice for our environment, a healthier choice for my staff and a wonderful option to share with my customers,” says Kauffman.
The changeover to waterborne paint required downtime of two work days, and cost the Maaco operation about $12,000, which Kauffman estimates will be recouped over a three to four year period.
His location is the only one of eight independently owned Maaco franchises in the Twin Cities to make the change to waterborne. Several national competitors in the market have already made the choice to go green.
Says Kauffman, “It’s the right thing to do…for all of us.”