Dutch insurers urged to unlock the full potential of green parts

In the Netherlands, a debate is gathering pace that should interest every automotive recycler. Schadegarant and Glasgarant, networks that manage large volumes of insurer-led collision repairs, have published a paper built around a pointed thought experiment: what if used parts became the default choice in managed repair, and new parts were fitted only when no suitable used part is available?

Their exploratory report, titled “Sustainability gains without loss of quality, an exploration of the use of used parts in the managed claims flow,” confirms what the recycling world has long argued. Re-using quality parts in body repair slashes CO₂ emissions, on average by 50 to 90 percent per component, depending on the part and vehicle model.

At the same time, the report exposes an uncomfortable reality. Used parts are well established in traditional third-party liability repairs, where cost control has pushed workshops to look beyond new OEM components. But in the steered or managed repair channel, where insurers direct work through contracted bodyshops, used parts are still rarely applied, despite this clear environmental upside.

The Dutch trade title Aftersales Magazine, in an article whose headline translates as “Schadegarant campaigning for used parts” (19 November 2025), neatly summarises why. Insurers fear loss of control and predictability. They worry that customers might defect to competitors if they feel short-changed by a part that is not brand new. And they see a risk of perceived unfairness: one policyholder gets a used wing, another a brand-new panel, yet both pay the same premium.

From a recycling perspective, these objections are not insurmountable, but they do demand serious answers.

The first is quality assurance. Green-parts suppliers must show that components are not only cheaper and greener, but also consistent and traceable. Clear grading standards, documented testing and solid warranty terms all help insurers feel they are not gambling with repair outcomes or customer satisfaction.

The second is process integration. Schadegarant’s paper explicitly looks at whether sufficient used parts are available and what is needed to make structural use viable at scale. That is an invitation for recyclers to step closer to the managed-repair world: integrated ordering platforms, real-time stock visibility, reliable logistics and VIN-based part matching are no longer “nice to have” – they are entry tickets to insurer-driven programmes.

The third is communication. If a driver only hears “used part”, they may assume “second best”. But when a repairer can confidently explain that a certified, warrantied recycled panel delivers the same safety and appearance as new, while avoiding the CO₂ footprint of manufacturing and transport, many customers are willing to accept, or even prefer, the greener option. Insurers are increasingly held to account on sustainability, which puts the ball firmly at their feet to lead this conversation.

Crucially, Schadegarant does not suggest it can redesign the system alone. Both the paper and the Aftersales article end with a call for collective alignment. Insurers and MGAs, repair networks, suppliers, industry bodies, and recyclers need to sit together and define clear rules: when are used parts mandatory, when optional and when inappropriate? How is equality between policyholders safeguarded? What data must be shared to guarantee safety, traceability and credible CO₂ reporting?

There is a major insurer-driven market segment, the steered repair flow, where green parts are still underused, not because the environmental case is weak, but because the operational and contractual framework is incomplete. The recyclers who help build that framework, rather than watching from the sidelines, stand to gain long-term, high-volume demand anchored in insurers’ formal sustainability strategies.

Schadegarant’s exploration may be Dutch, but the opportunity is wider. The report points towards a future where recycled parts are not a last-minute option, but a default setting backed by data, standards and contracts. Recyclers who can provide that combination of quality, availability and transparency will be well placed as insurers across Europe look for credible ways to cut the footprint of collision repair.

For readers who want to dive deeper into the numbers and assumptions behind the Dutch debate, the full report “Sustainability gains without loss of quality – an exploration of the use of used parts in the managed claims flow” is available (in Dutch) via Schadegarant’s website: Schadegarant Paper: Duurzaamheidswinst zonder kwaliteitsverlies 2025