December/January 2022

T here are few hotter topics right now than sustainability. Businesses operating in almost every sector are currently working hard both to deliver on corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments and to reduce their environmental impact. The automotive industry is no different, and governmental regulations and consumer demands are driving many operators of garages and bodyshops to scrutinise the environmental footprint of their operations. This poses many challenges, perhaps the biggest of which is where to begin. Start with cleaning up Engine oil, hydraulic fluids, antifreeze and grease are essential to the smooth running of vehicles and the spillage of these fluids within workshops happen all the time. It’s common in the industry to use single use rags, disposable blue paper roll, grit or even cat litter to mop-up and absorb such spills. However, this practice has a significant environmental impact. Like the use of any disposable product, it is inherently wasteful, but they can end up in the bin and make their way to landfill. It is also important to remember that any cleaning cloths, paper wipes or other materials used for absorption soaked with oil and other industrial fluids are potentially classified as absolute hazardous entries on the Waste Framework Directive’s List of Waste document. They therefore must be disposed of by an accredited hazardous wastes contractor. Instead of this traditional approach, many industrial workplaces are contracting third-party suppliers to deliver re-usable wipes and oil trapping mats. Once soiled, these products are then collected, laundered in an environmentally friendly way and returned for re-use. Not only does this approach reduce cleaning time, thereby improving productivity, it also eliminates the need to manage the purchase, delivery, storage and disposal of single-use materials, not to mention the wasteful packaging these come in and unnecessary delivery miles and associated emissions. The service also ensures that hazardous waste disposal is done compliantly with no detrimental impact to the environment. Environmental benefits The environmental benefits of using such a service are manifold. The wipes and mats can be re-used up to 50 times and, at MEWA, we estimate that the adoption of these materials by our customers prevents 85,000 tonnes of industrial waste from being created. The washing process follows all legal environmental protection and disposal requirements. In fact, we recover the oils from used wipes to power our washing and drying systems, thus covering 80-90% of our energy requirements. We also provide our cleaning wipes in our SaCon storage container, ensuring that they are stored safely once used and there is no wasteful packing. Switching to wipes and mats that arecollected, washed and inspected under a full-service leasing model means that the supplier takes responsibility for their environmental impact and presents garages with an easy way to operate in the circular economy. Other simple ways that garages could improve their environmental impact include monitoring gas, electricity, and water bills closely to identify inefficiencies, such as leaving equipment on that is not in use. The installation of energy-efficient lighting, for instance, is a low-cost, long-term solution to cutting costs and reducing environmental impact. Also, consider fitting motion sensors or timers to lighting fixtures. You can also reduce your environmental impact, especially with regard to mileage and packaging waste, by ordering your consumables in bulk and using refillable containers for items such as engine degreaser. Wherever possible, you should use non-toxic degreasers and cleaners too. Small steps like this can make a difference. Taking this simple approach will help you to save money, reduce your environmental impact and improve your appeal to increasingly sustainability-focused customers. 18 AFTERMARKET DECEMBER/JANUARY 2022 BUSINESS www.aftermarketonline.net SIMPLE STEPS TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY Reducing the environmental impact of your garage might seem daunting, but by making a few changes, you can operate more sustainably and cut costs BY Günes Yenen, UK Country Manager, MEWA