In the UK, all new cars and vans will be required to be fully zero emission at the tailpipe by 2035. Climate change is something we all need to be conscious about, and small changes can make a big difference to environmental impact and protecting the planet. That’s why we at DWV operate in an environmentally sustainable manner, and will always look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
First and foremost, we strive to contribute to the solution. We take full responsibility for the way we work, keep all waste to a minimum, and consciously consider how our actions impact the planet, not just in the present but also for future generations.
When we relocated to our head office in Leeds, we ensured our new office space was fitted with low-energy equipment and motion sensor lighting, and we only use suppliers that provide 100% renewable energy.
To reduce paper usage, all processes across the business are carried out digitally where possible. Any hand-given training materials for our office staff, technicians, and franchisees are given in recyclable cardboard boxes which are to be reused.
When it comes to job planning, we employ a comprehensive logistics planning system that considers time, fuel efficiency, and mileage for our nationwide technicians to save time, and help reduce our carbon footprint.
When it comes to service, we always repair and never replace. We consider all the products and technology we use to ensure they are environmentally friendly, and efficient.
We use water-based, VOC-compliant products which contain fewer harmful chemicals than standard hydrocarbon paints and are much easier to clean up, helping the environment in the process.
In 2021, we trialled the use of UV technology for all primer and filler products used in our repairs. UV primer filler products often contain only one component, and are isocyanate free, making them a safer alternative to conventional products.
Both products are ready to use and require less curing time than standard refinishing materials, which can take between 30-45 minutes to completely cure. UV technology is sometimes referred to as ‘cold curing’ technology because it uses only UVA light and takes around under two minutes to cure, reducing the use of infrared lamps, and producing no additional heat during the process.
In 2022, we officially rolled UV primers and fillers out to all our technicians, allowing us to further reduce consumables and waste by removing over 500 aerosol cans from our network, whilst caring for the planet.
We have also replaced our polishing system with the Farecla G360 product, which is much more efficient and delivers better results, allowing us to further reduce consumables.
With the government’s efforts to reduce, and eventually ban the production of combustion engines, our technicians are fully trained and able to carry out cosmetic repairs on both hybrid and fully electric vehicles.
Currently, across the country we have over 100 vans all fitted with state-of-the-art technology and equipment to provide the best possible service.
We continually monitor the driving habits of our technicians to ensure they are safe, and fuel-efficient to reduce emissions and lower environmental impact. The overall health of our vans is also maintained to ensure they remain roadworthy.
When any of our vans are de-commissioned, we have all equipment carefully removed and recycled before that van is sold. All our vans are sold responsibly via our network of trusted auction partners.
Throughout the business, we are constantly looking for ways to reduce the number of consumables and ancillaries we use without affecting quality or service. As a result of all the changes that have been implemented so far, we have achieved ISO 14001, the standard for environmental impact and performance, and are looking for more ways to improve in 2023.
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