Autoglass is aiming to create a greener world by putting a fresh focus on repairing windscreens rather than replacing them.

The energy needed to make one windscreen is, according to a recent specialist survey, equivalent to at least 10,000 repairs.

Now Belron, Autoglass’s parent company, has appointed André Segers to the new role of repair development manager with responsibility for innovative technical development and improvement.

Mr Segers said: “It is a staggering difference between repair and replacement and an area on which we are now very focused.

“Repair is cheaper and eliminates the environmental impact of broken glass. Many insurance companies sponsor free windscreen repair as an alternative to replacement.”

Belron, which also operates Carglass in continental Europe, completes around two million repairs a year, around a third of its total front windscreen business.