The Co-operative Insurance has joined forces with 3M to cash incentivise the repair of its plastic parts rather than their costly disposal.

The Co-operative Insurance will give repairers within their network who choose to repair a plastic part, a cash incentive equating to 50% of the cost of the new part. So, if a repairer decides to repair a bumper with a RRP of £260, The Co-operative Insurance will credit the repairer £130.

A spokesman for Co-operative Insurance said: "We have a robust environmental policy in which we seek to reduce the environmental impact of the industry we serve.

"We recognise that it’s easier to fit a new part and throw away the old one, rather than considering whether it could be repaired. So in order to encourage repairers to think again, we’ve decided to offer them a major incentive."

3M’s range of plastic repair products has been chosen by The Co-operative Insurance for the initiative.