There is a common misconception that greening an auto repair shop can be cost-consuming because people conflate environmental practice with eco-luxury marketed goods. Raman Kumar Sharma, Senior Advisor, Automotive Skills Development Council in this article investigates some affordable ways to employ sustainable methods which can be healthy for the environment and your workshop as well.
Going Green is usually not synonymous with the auto sector. The growth of sustainability across the world has pushed several industries to adopt eco-friendly practices and incorporate new approaches in their operations to save the environment. However, the auto repair industry has been a soft target for environmental enthusiasts as most of the waste generated by garages can’t be easily decomposed or even recycled. But as the world shows alacrity in tackling the issue of climate change, the automotive industry is also concentrating its efforts on promoting sustainable actions via technological advancements. Automakers have made several strides in reducing the environmental impact by ensuring the effective use of water at their workshops, working on waste management, and reducing the use of hazardous material with other sustainable options. Adopting the concept of smart mobility has been a marque move of several leading auto manufacturers to showcase their sensitivity towards the issue of environmental degradation. But the automotive technicians working at the usual auto garages or owning an independent repair shop don’t have access to such technological advancements. As a result, they are usually unaware of implementing environmentally-friendly policies.
Here are some quick tips that will allow auto repairers to Go Green and make their shops environmentally friendly:
- Preventing spillage of hazardous oils/fluids
Auto repair centers are usually messy and it’s hard to prevent the dripping of several repairing oils that are usually hazardous to the environment. Mechanics can Go Green by ensuring that the floors of the shop are sealed with materials like an industrial acrylic floor system to prevent any spills from soaking into the concrete and ending up in the ground. Even if you have spill-proof floors make sure to use drip pans and trays when transferring fluids. Make sure to collect the spilled fluids into a container for reuse or recycling.
- Stock up on Environment Preferred Motor Oils
There are several dangerous chemicals used in auto garages on a daily basis. First and foremost, it is important to buy all the raw materials and chemicals in stock to reduce packaging and plastic use. Mechanics can also switch to re-refined/recycled oils and change the psyche of their customers who think conventional synthetic motor oils are the only options by introducing them to these green solutions.
- Prevent draining of toxic materials in storm drains
Given the use of hazardous material, there will always be a toxic run-off coming out from an autorepair shop. Taking concrete preventive measures to ensure that none of these toxic leftovers are entering the storm drain will greatly impact taking care of the environment. Choose non-toxic degreasers and cleaners that might be a bit expensive but are a value for money in going green.
- Reduce Paper and Go Digital
Having a digital setup for several practices like onboarding, an inspection of vehicles, service estimates, and a streamlined AI-powered customer interface is within your reach. So say goodbye to heavy loads of paperwork and adopt a much more convenient way of keeping records and saving paper. Deliver all receipts, invoices, estimates via email and text thus save some trees along the way.
