July 2026

The automotive repair industry is facing a profound transformation: increasing regulatory requirements, growing customer expectations, and the need for resource-efficient processes are making sustainability a central topic for the future. The potential is enormous – the way damaged vehicles are repaired represents a significant lever for climate protection. At the same time, this transformation also offers economic opportunities for repair shops: those who adopt sustainable processes early can reduce costs, differentiate themselves from competitors, and strengthen their market position in the long term.

But how can sustainability in workshop practice be made measurable, comparable, and actionable? This is exactly where zyrcle comes in.

zyrcle: An independent standard for the industry

The Verein Nachhaltige Kfz-Reparatur e.V. is an independent, industry-wide association developing a practical sustainability standard for body and paint repair shops under the name “zyrcle”. The certification makes a shop's current status visible and sets the framework for its future viability. The assessment of ecological, social, and corporate responsibility transparently shows customers and partners how sustainably, efficiently, and responsibly a business operates.

The zyrcle approach is based on four core principles:

Becoming more profitable through data transparency: zyrcle provides the data foundation for making well-informed business decisions. Transparency regarding energy, material, and process consumption is the prerequisite for understanding costs, identifying losses, and taking targeted corrective action.

Meeting requirements through guidance: zyrcle translates industry requirements into a clear, comprehensible, and unified framework. Workshops receive practical support and can orient themselves in a structured way – creating planning certainty, both internally and externally.

Securing the future through continuous improvement: The assessment provides an objective evaluation of where a business stands and where improvements are possible – neutral and without any immediate obligation to act.

Building trust through comparability: zyrcle creates a common language and transparent criteria. Workshops become comparable without losing their individuality. This strengthens trust and facilitates collaboration with customers and partners.

Our commitment as AZT

Sustainability in automotive repair has been an important research focus at AZT for many years, which we actively drive forward – whether through innovative repair methods or our consistent advocacy for the principle of “repair rather than replace”. We bring this knowledge and experience directly into the work of zyrcle.

Our commitment is underscored by our personnel involvement in the association's governing bodies:

Thomas Behl (AZT) actively shapes the strategic direction of the association as a member of the board.

Niclas Kurzmann (AZT) contributes his expertise to the advisory board and supports the ongoing development of the standard.

We are convinced: industry-wide, practical sustainability standards are the key to unlocking the ecological and economic potential in claims management on a broad scale. Through our involvement in the Verein Nachhaltige Kfz-Reparatur e.V. and in zyrcle, we are making a tangible contribution to shaping a future-proof automotive repair industry – for our customers, our partners, and our environment.

For more information about the Verein Nachhaltige Kfz-Reparatur e.V., visit: zyrcle.org