Clean Green Collision (CGC), an Oakland, Calif., collision repair shop, announced the debut of its sustainable auto body repair services for all makes and models of cars.

Jacque Andres, founder of CGC, believes that his shop is unique in the industry. He sees himself as playing both an immediate role offering consumers a green alternative, as well as providing a model for broad change.  

"If we can turn out quality work at competitive prices using responsible business and environmental practices, others will be forced to change based on the market rather than waiting for litigation or regulation,” Andres said.

Andres said he created a unique shop and invented technology, including double layer filtration systems, to keep the shop green. CGC features these sustainable techniques and products:

• Waterborne paints
• Ultraviolet curing body fillers and primers that reduce or eliminate the use of solvents. (This process is similar to the way dentists cure filling material.)
• Multi-stage dust filters in controlled work environments. An Andres invention that he calls the “eco-plenum” to help re-circulate the paint both emissions.
• Ceiling filters to trap dust that would otherwise escape through the roof into the air.
• Recycling and/or proper disposal of all paint waste and dismantled car parts.
• CGC washes its cars with a high-pressure wash systems that uses minimal amounts of water and bio-degradable soap. All runoff water if filtered before it goes into the proper drains.
• Certification as a green business by Alameda County. Recycling of all paper glass and plastic products, use of energy efficient lighting and the other requirements required for certification.

Andres said he became a proponent of sustainable collision repair after experiencing a physical reaction to a newly painted car. While he was driving the car home, he said he came down with flu-like symptoms within minutes of getting into the car. He believed that paint particles had entered the interior and were causing his response. Andres then decided he would change his approach to auto body repair. At CGC, every car has the air vents and the interior tightly sealed so that dust and paint do not enter the car, protecting his customers from unwanted chemicals and particulates.

For more information, visit www.cleangreencollision.com.