Automotive Recyclers Engage Automakers on Sustainability Goals ­– “Advocacy in Action” Video Release Reflects Collaboration in Celebration of Earth Day

The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) recognizes Earth Day today celebrating positive steps forward between the professional automotive recycling industry and automobile manufacturers in advancing environmental sustainability through the automotive supply chain. ARA’s recent efforts to engage auto manufacturers on the topic of sustainability and vehicle life cycle is highlighted in a new “Advocacy in Action” video released by the Association.

(The video can be seen at www.a-r-a.org on the homepage).

“Earlier this year, ARA hosted representatives from General Motors (GM) at ARA Member facility Fox Auto Parts in Belleville, Michigan,” said ARA Executive Director, Sandy Blalock. “The facility tour was part of ongoing discussions between ARA and several automakers about the vital role professional automotive recyclers play in ensuring that vehicles are processed efficiently and in an environmentally friendly manner when they reach the end-of-life stage.” The tour walked the guests through the entire process of receiving, inventorying, dismantling, storage, sales, shipping and even crushing end-of-life vehicles.

Several of the GM guests were fascinated to see how much of the vehicle was recycled and resold, and one guest commented, “It makes our job to focus on the areas that we can do better. Throughout the whole tour I was thinking of ways that we could design up front to make things easier to disassemble … what’s in that ‘fluff’ that we could start to eliminate.”

In a high-level presentation to the Supplier Partnership for the Environment, with representatives from Toyota, Honda, and Ford in attendance, Blalock presented the critical steps in automotive recycling, and noted where vehicle manufacturers and auto recyclers could collaborate in the future. These important steps are vital to building strong relationships between the automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers and Professional Automotive Recyclers who inventory and resell quality Recycled Original Equipment (ROE®) auto parts from vehicles, and then send the hulls to be further processed at scrap metal facilities who recycle the metal.

Automobiles are among the most recycled products in the world. When a consumer chooses economical ROE® automotive parts in their mechanical and collision repairs, vehicle owners help preserve natural resources, reduce air and water pollution, and divert material from landfills. It is good for the earth, and good for the wallet.

“As the world continues to focus on environmental stewardship as celebrated on Earth Day, and automakers work towards zero gas emissions vehicles for the future, we want it to be known that professional automotive recyclers are part of the sustainability process, and bring valuable solutions to the table,” said ARA President Scott Robertson. “The environmental impact of materials, how parts and assemblies are dismantled and reutilized in vehicle repair, separating out what is biodegradable and what can be used to make new products, these are all aspects of vehicle engineering to which ARA members can offer valuable input. We look forward to more collaboration in the future.”

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