As Kinetic’25 approaches, the accident repair sector prepares to discuss a new, sector-specific pathway for decarbonisation through ARIES, filling the gap left by retiring PAS 2060 standards and aligning with global eco-standard shifts.

As Kinetic’25 draws near, the automotive repair scene is getting ready for a really important conversation about how to adopt more sustainable repair practices. The Accident Repair Industry Environmental Standard (ARIES) is encouraging everyone involved to join a key session titled “Decarbonisation: Commercially Balanced and Available to Everyone.” This session is set for Thursday, September 4th at 2:30 PM on the Kinetic Live Stage, and it’s expected to bring together top experts from insurers, vehicle manufacturers, repair organizations, and specialists in sustainability. The panel will wrap up with a live Q&A featuring Quentin Willson, a broadcaster and author. The focus will be on decarbonisation strategies—ways to reduce emissions that are not just good for the planet but also practical and commercially sensible for everyone in the accident repair industry.

The timing for this session is quite critical because the internationally recognized PAS 2060 standard—long considered the go-to for carbon neutrality—is due to retire at the end of 2025. ARIES has stepped into the spotlight as an independent, not-for-profit framework, specially designed for the accident repair sector. It’s meant to fill the gap left when PAS 2060 is phased out. The goal of ARIES is to provide a straightforward and inclusive path to decarbonisation, one that’s accessible for all types of repairers, insurers, vehicle makers, and suppliers, regardless of size. Gary Brench, who’s the Director of Risk & Assurance at Vizion Group, says that ARIES is all about turning what some see as a burden—environmental change—into a strategic advantage. Basically, it offers actionable insights that can help the industry move forward.

PAS 2060, which was introduced by the British Standards Institution (BSI) back in 2009, has been the standard for proving carbon neutrality. It’s quite comprehensive, requiring organizations to fully account for their Scope 1, Scope 2, and significant Scope 3 emissions. This includes delivering a clear Carbon Management Plan that covers commitments, reduction goals, methods, and using high-quality, certified offsets. But now, with the arrival of the newer ISO 14068-1:2023 standard—which, by the way, is the first international standard on carbon neutrality—the old PAS 2060 scheme is starting to be phased out. Come 2025, BSI will no longer support PAS 2060, and companies will verify their claims under ISO 14068-1, which mainly addresses organizational carbon neutrality. Meanwhile, claims related to products and services will fall under a separate Carbon Neutral Kitemark.

This shift from PAS 2060 to ISO 14068-1 really highlights how the standards landscape around carbon neutrality is evolving. It’s pushing industries towards more globally harmonized and stronger standards. And within this context, ARIES offers a sector-specific option that’s tailored for accident repair. It sort of acts as a bridge—linking these emerging global standards with practical, commercially viable ways to actually implement decarbonisation on the ground. The idea is to help repair businesses meet both regulatory requirements and market expectations—without it becoming prohibitively expensive or complicated.

If you're heading to Kinetic’25, attending this ARIES panel could be a real eye-opener. As the repair industry faces mounting pressure to cut its environmental impact—especially with tightening regulations and a growing consumer demand for sustainability—the session will be invaluable. It’s a great chance to learn how these environmental standards translate into everyday business practice. Plus, you’ll see how companies can use sustainability credentials as a competitive edge. Interested folks can register through the official portal of the organisation, which emphasizes that ARIES is there to support industry-wide efforts toward decarbonisation and sustainability.

To sum up, the retirement of PAS 2060 and the rise of ARIES mark a pretty significant shift in how the accident repair industry approaches environmental responsibility. By focusing on practical, balanced, and business-friendly paths to decarbonisation, the sector is gearing up to face environmental challenges head-on—while still keeping the wheels turning. It’s a message that I think will really resonate at Kinetic’25, highlighting a proactive, sensible way forward.

📌 Reference Map:

Source: Noah Wire Services