T
he automotive aftermarket industry was green before being
green was mainstream. The businesses in this industry, from
manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution and retail, to service
and repair, are committed to sustainable practices and products that
meet the needs of the present without compromising the future.
The core purpose of these aftermarket businesses is to provide the
parts, products and services to keep America’s vehicles operating
properly, efficiently, safely and cleanly, which contributes to better gas
mileage, less energy consumption and cleaner air. The widespread
environmental thinking and practices in the areas of recycling, disposal,
packaging, transportation and facilities management delivers energy
efficient, recyclable, reusable and non-hazardous results.
On behalf of aftermarket businesses throughout the United States,
the Auto Care Association has prepared this eco story to help
demonstrate the environmental stewardship of the industry through
its commitment to having a minimal impact on the health of the
ecosystem and a positive impact on society and the planet.
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
Driving Toward a Cleaner Environment
The Automotive Aftermarket Green Story
95%
of companies (primarily repair
shops and parts stores) surveyed
by the Auto Care Association indicated they
recycle used engine oil.
40%
of oil pollution of our nation’s harbors
and waterways is a result of improper
collection, disposal or recycling of motor oil.
Fortunately, most engine oil drained from automobiles is recycled. Ninety-five
percent of companies (primarily repair shops and parts stores) surveyed by the
Auto Care Association indicated they recycle used engine oil. The majority of
used oil is collected and sold as combustible fuel, mainly used for energy for
power plants and heating.
About 16 percent of used engine oil is re-refined into new oil. One gallon of used
motor oil can produce 2.5 quarts of re-refined oil. It takes about 85 percent less
energy to produce re-refined motor oil than it does to produce motor oil from
crude oil.
Re-refining used oil conserves natural non-renewable resources and keeps
millions of gallons of oil from being disposed of improperly. Petroleum molecules
never wear out, so used motor oil can be re-refined over and over again.
The Environmental Impact
Oil that is dumped on the ground or into the sewer system rather than properly
collected and recycled can contaminate one million gallons of drinking water.
If the entire 1.3 billion gallons of used oil in the U.S. were recycled, it could
generate enough electricity to meet the needs of 1.8 million households for an
entire year – equal to all of the households in Colorado.
Forty percent of oil pollution of our nation’s harbors and waterways is a result of
improper collection, disposal or recycling of motor oil.
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
ENGINE OIL
An estimated 1.3 billion gallons, or 5.2 billion quarts, of motor vehicle engine oil
is generated each year from oil changes performed primarily at repair shops or
by do-it-yourselfers. This amount is equivalent to six times more oil than was
reportedly leaked from the Deepwater Horizon well in the Gulf.
recycling
RECYCLING ENGINE OIL
63.3 million
An estimated
automotive
batteries were recycled last year, equal to 1.4
billion pounds of lead, according to the Auto Care
Factbook. Nearly all (98%) of automotive aftermarket
companies surveyed by Auto Care Association have
battery recycling methods in place.
The lead is cleaned and melted and used in the production of new lead plates and
other parts for new batteries.
The plastic is cleaned and melted into pellets used to manufacture new battery cases.
Old battery acid can either be neutralized into safe water and released into the sewer
system or converted into sodium sulfate used in laundry detergent, glass and textiles.
The Environmental Impact
An estimated 63.3 million automotive batteries were recycled last year, equal to 1.4
billion pounds of lead, according to the Auto Care Factbook. Nearly all (98 percent)
of automotive aftermarket companies surveyed by the Auto Care Association have
battery recycling methods in place.
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
BATTERIES
More than 95 percent of an automotive battery can be recycled. The lead, plastic, acid
and sulfuric acid found in batteries are reclaimed and reused in the manufacturing of
new batteries.
recycling
RECYCLING BATTERIES
Remanufacturing automotive parts typically
reuses about 88% of the raw materials from
the original parts. Remanufacturers have been
“recycling” for more than 80 years.*
50%
Rebuilt engines require
of the energy
and 67% of the labor that is required to produce
new engines.
Remanufacturing automotive parts typically reuses about 88 percent of the raw
materials from the original parts. Remanufacturers have been “recycling” for
more than 80 years.*
In remanufacturing, worn-out, missing or non-functioning components are
replaced with new or rebuilt components, and the part is reassembled and tested
for compliance with performance specifications. A rebuilt part normally costs
50-75 percent of the cost of a comparable new one, and customarily carries the
same warranty.
Nearly 58 percent of companies surveyed by the Auto Care Association
manufacture, distribute, use or sell remanufactured products. The value of
remanufactured parts was about $40 billion in the U.S. in 2009, based on
estimates by APRA.*
About 50 percent of the original starter is recovered in the remanufacturing
process, for example. This can result in annual savings in the U.S. of 8.2 million
gallons of crude oil from steel manufacturing, 51,500 tons of iron ore, and 6,000
tons of copper and other metals.
Rebuilt engines require 50 percent of the energy and 67 percent of the labor that
is required to produce new engines.
The yearly energy savings by remanufacturing worldwide equals the electricity
generated by five nuclear power plants or 10,774,000 barrels of crude oil, which
corresponds to a fleet of 233 oil tankers.**
The yearly raw materials saved by remanufacturing worldwide would fill 155,000
railroad cars forming a train 1,110 miles long.**
* Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association (APRA)
** The Fraunhofer Institute, Stuggart, Germany
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
PARTS
The Environmental Impact
remanufacturing
REMANUFACTURING PARTS
88%
of companies (primarily repair
shops) surveyed by the Auto Care
Association indicated they recycle tires.
Approximately 89 percent of the scrap tires generated in the United States by
weight are consumed in end-use markets.*
More than 300 million tires are scrapped annually, or about one tire per person in
the United States. Total replacement tire sales in 2009 were $26.6 billion.
Ground rubber applications account for 17 percent of the scrap tire market.
Ground rubber is used to produce asphalt rubber, and also can be used as
groundcover under playground equipment and on tracks and athletic surfaces.
Approximately 12 percent of scrap tires are used in civil engineering applications,
including road and landfill construction.
Environmental Impact
Nearly 300 million tires are scrapped every year and 88 percent of companies
(primarily repair shops) surveyed by the Auto Care Association indicated they
recycle tires, keeping them out of landfills and stockpiles.
When not recycled, tires pose health and environmental risks. Scrap tires in
landfills can cause problems due to their uneven settlement and tendency to rise
to the surface, which can harm landfill covers.
Tire stockpiles can create tire fires that cause air pollution, as well as toxic oil
runoff that can contaminate soil, surface water and groundwater. Stockpiles
also can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and rodents that can carry deadly
diseases and pose a threat to human health.
* Scrap Tire Markets in the United States, Biennial Report, May 2009, Executive Overview, Rubber
Manufacturers Association
Other sources:
1) Scrap Tire Markets in the United States, Biennial Report, May 2009, Executive Overview, Rubber Manufacturers
Association
2) http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/tires/index.htm
3) www.earth911.com
4) Acumen (88 percent indicated they were recycling tires)
5) Modern Tire Dealer (Total replacement tire sales in 2009 were 26.6 billion) - www.moderntiredealer.com
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
TIRES
Fortunately, 88 percent of the companies (primarily repair shops) surveyed by the
Auto Care Association indicated they recycle tires. Approximately 89 percent of
the scrap tires generated in the United States by weight are put to new productive
use. Approximately 54 percent of scrap tires are used as tire derived fuel (TDF), a
low-sulfur, high heating value fuel.
recycling
RECYCLING TIRES
50%
The rate at which used oil filter
recycling has climbed nationally
from near zero just 10 years ago.*
Each year, the United States generates
approximately 425 million used automotive
oil filters containing 160,000 tons of iron
units and 18 million gallons of oil.**
After being removed from the vehicle, a used oil filter may still contain
approximately 45 percent used motor oil in weight. Two quarts of re-refined oil
can be produced from one gallon of used oil. It takes less energy to produce a
gallon of re-refined motor oil than to produce the same amount from crude oil.
Environmental Impact
The rate of used oil filter recycling has climbed more than 50 percent nationally
from near zero just 10 years ago. Estimates suggest that 100 percent recycling
of used oil filters would allow recovering 160,000 tons of steel – enough to make
16 new stadiums the size of Atlanta’s Olympic Stadium – and nearly 18 million
gallons of oil.
Recycling used oil filters conserves non-renewable resources and landfill space,
and prevents oil from contaminating soil and water.
Recycling metal saves up to 74 percent energy and 40 percent water
consumption, compared with using virgin materials.***
* Filter Manufacturers Council
** Feasibility Study for Recycling Used Automotive Oil Filters in a Blast Furnace, American Iron and Steel
Institute.
*** Earth911
Other sources
1) Filter Manufacturers Council, www.filtercouncil.org
2) Earth911, www.earth911.com
3) CalRecycle, http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/usedoil/facts.htm
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
OIL FILTERS
An estimated 425 million oil filters are disposed of annually. Used oil filters are
composed of steel – the number-one recycled material in North America – and
are being recycled into new steel products, including cans, cars, appliances and
construction materials.
recycling
RECYCLING OIL FILTERS
84%
of companies (repair shops,
manufacturers, distributors,
retailers and jobbers) surveyed by the Auto Care
Association indicated they recycle wood pallets.
90%
Approximately 700 million pallets are manufactured and repaired each year. When
a used wood pallet cannot be repaired or reused, it can be recycled. The Auto
Care Association survey indicated that 84 percent of companies (repair shops,
manufacturers, distributors, retailers and jobbers) recycle wood pallets.
Wooden pallets can be recycled into mulch for landscapes, fuel pellets, pressed
logs, pet bedding, medium-density fiberboard, and as a composting agent to
increase airflow and decomposition.
Environmental Impact
Wood accounts for roughly 17 percent of the waste in U.S. landfills. Wood pallets
that are recycled minimize the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Recycling pallets also conserves natural resources as fewer trees are harvested,
which preserves local ecosystems and reduces air and water pollution associated
with deforestation. Forests help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by taking up
carbon dioxide and storing carbon in trees and soil. U.S. forests offset roughly
11 percent of industrial greenhouse gas emissions annually.* Recycling 720,000
wood pallets per year is equivalent to saving 212,000 trees. **
* United States Department of Agriculture
** AutoZone
Other sources
1) U.S. Forest Service
2) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the USDA Forestry Service Study
3) http://www.livestrong.com/article/153810-facts-about-wood-recycling/#ixzz14Ekk4sKT
4) Acumen (84percent recycle wood pallets)
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
WOOD PALLETS
Estimated percentage of pallets
that are made of wood, and
every year, approximately 1.9 billion wooden
pallets are in circulation in the United States.
recycling
RECYCLING WOOD PALLETS
72%
of companies (repair shops,
manufacturers, distributors,
retailers and jobbers) surveyed by the Auto
Care Association indicated they recycle
cardboard.
In 2009, a record-high 63.4 percent of the paper used in the United States was
recovered for recycling.*
Recycled cardboard is used to create new cardboard, packaging material and textile
tubing, and as biodegradable garden supplies such as mulch.
Paper recycling reached an all-time high of 63.4 percent in 2009, yet office workers
in the United States continue to generate approximately two pounds of paper and
paperboard products every day. In addition to writing paper and paper towels, more
than 5,000 products can be made from recycled paper.
Environmental Impact
Recycling cardboard and paper saves valuable landfill space. When using recycled
cardboard, only 75 percent of the energy is needed to make new cardboard and
the emission of sulfur dioxide that is produced when making pulp from trees is
lessened. Every bale of cardboard that is recycled saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of
water, 380 gallons of oil and enough energy to heat a home in the United States for
six months.
American businesses generate enough paper every day to circle the earth 20
times. Similar to cardboard recycling, paper recycling conserves resources,
including trees, water, oil and energy. Recycled paper reduces water pollution by
35 percent and air pollution by 74 percent, and eliminates many toxic pollutants.
* Paperrecycles.org
Other sources
Acumen
www.paperrecycles.org
www.cardboardrecycling.org
http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/paper/setting/schoolwork.htm
www.redcorerecycling.com) - “generated enough paper to circle earth” stat
www.earth911.com
www.ehow.com/list_7229175_benefits-recycling-cardboard_.html - “every bale” stat
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
CARDBOARD AND PAPER
More than 85 percent of all products sold in the United States are packed in
cardboard and an estimated 31.4 million tons of cardboard are discarded every year.
Fortunately, 72 percent of companies (repair shops, manufacturers, distributors,
retailers and jobbers) surveyed by the Auto Care Association indicated they recycle
cardboard.
recycling
RECYCLING
CARDBOARD & PAPER
PARTS CLEANING SOLVENTS
91%
of companies (primarily repair
shops) surveyed by the Auto
Care Association indicated they recycle parts
cleaning solvents.
Auto repair shops use solvents to clean engine parts. Of the companies surveyed
by the Auto Care Association, 91 percent recycle parts cleaning solvents. In
addition to recycling solvents, many repair shops also follow green practices
regarding solvents, including reducing the amount of hazardous solvent used,
reusing solvent, using a less-hazardous or non-hazardous solvent, and disposing
of spent materials in accordance with federal, state and local requirements.
Environmental Impact
Chemicals that make up the solvents used by repair shops to clean parts are
dangerous to humans, animals and the environment. If solvents are not handled
properly, health problems can occur due to eye contact, skin contact, and
inhalation and swallowing. When solvents evaporate, they cause hazardous air
pollution and smog. If not disposed of properly, solvents can cause environment
problems such as contaminating water supplies. There are additional risks of fire,
explosion and pollution from careless disposal of solvents.
Other sources
Acumen
ECAR – http://www.ecarcenter.org/fl/fl-solvent.htm
RCRA in Focus (pdf)
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
PARTS CLEANING SOLVENTS
According to the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), the most dangerous waste
commonly created in repair shops is from
solvents used to clean parts.
recycling
RECYCLING
96%
of companies (primarily repair
shops) surveyed by the Auto Care
Association indicated they recycle scrap metal.
The volume of material recycled in the United
States in 2009 includes 71 million tons of iron
and steel, 4.6 million tons of aluminum and 1.7
million tons of copper.*
Recycled iron and steel scrap are a vital raw material used to produce new
cast iron and steel products. Recycled aluminum is often re-used for the same
application for which it was originally manufactured, while recovered copper
is used in a wide range of applications, including electrical, piping, roofing and
insulation, and household items.
Environmental Impact
Scrap metal recycling conserves natural resources, reduces greenhouse gas
emissions and air pollution, saves energy and minimizes the amount of waste
sent to landfills. More specifically, recycling one ton of steel conserves 2,500
lbs. of iron ore, 1,200 lbs. of coal and 120 lbs. of limestone.** Through the use of
ferrous scrap metal (iron and steel), CO2 emissions are reduced 58 percent. The
energy saved using recycled materials versus virgin ore is up to 56 percent for
steel, 92 percent for aluminum and 90 percent for copper.
The energy saved from recycling one ton of aluminum is equal to the amount of
electricity the average home uses over 10 years.***
* Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. Fact Sheet, www.isri.org
** Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc., Face Sheet, www.isri.org
*** Keep America Beautiful, www.kab.org
Other sources
Acumen
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc., www.isri.org
Bureau of International Recycling, www.bir.org
Keep American Beautiful, www.kab.org
Planet Metals, http://planet-metals.com/trivia/
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
SCRAP METAL
The Auto Care Association survey indicated that 96 percent of companies
(primarily repair shops) recycle scrap metal from several automotive components,
including alternators, brakes, engines and transmissions. Among the most
commonly recycled metals by volume are iron and steel, aluminum and copper.
recycling
RECYCLING SCRAP METAL
71%
of companies (repair shops,
manufacturers, distributors, retailers
and jobbers) surveyed by the Auto Care
Association indicated they recycle dunnage.
Packing peanuts, bubble wrap, paper products, air bags, air pillows and
foam are among the types of dunnage commonly used to prevent damage
from occurring during the transport of goods. Of the companies surveyed
by the Auto Care Association (repair shops, manufacturers, distributors,
retailers and jobbers), 71 percent indicated they recycle dunnage.
Most dunnage can be reused by the recipient of the goods, taken to a shipping or
mailing center for reuse, or turned into a recycling center where materials can be
converted into other useful products.
Environmental Impact
Dunnage made with expanded polystyrene, such as packing peanuts, resists
decomposition in landfills. Recycling and reuse diverts dunnage from landfills,
conserves the earth’s resources, and limits air and water pollution associated with
extraction and manufacturing of raw materials.
* The Plastic Loose Fill Council, www.loosefillpackaging.com
Other sources
Acumen
Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers, www.epspackaging.org
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
DUNNAGE
Nearly 30% of all loose fill (commonly known as
packing peanuts) is reused, and approximately 45
million pounds of plastic loose fill are produced
each year in the United States.*
recycling
RECYCLING DUNNAGE
54%
of companies (repair shops,
manufacturers, distributors,
retailers and jobbers) surveyed by the Auto
Care Association indicated they recycle plastics.
Plastics are used to manufacture thousands of products. Packaging, which
includes bottles, containers and cups, is the largest end-use market for plastics.
Additionally, the use of lightweight plastics in vehicles has grown to approximately
330 pounds per vehicle. At present, over 50 percent of a vehicle’s volume is
composed of plastics and plastic composites.**
A wide range of products are made with the recycled content of plastics,
including new food and beverage bottles, carpets, clothing, automobile parts,
plastic lumber, bags, industrial fibers and office accessories.
Environmental Impact
Plastics are polymers composed primarily of petroleum. When plastics are
recycled, this natural resource is preserved. Producing new plastic products from
recycled materials uses 66 percent less energy than is required to make products
from raw materials, and when recycled material is substituted for virgin material,
greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced. Recycling also reduces the
amount of plastics in landfills.
For every ton of recycled plastics, 16.3 barrels of oil are saved. When a single
plastic bottle is recycled, enough energy is conserved to light a 60-watt light bulb
for up to six hours.
* Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/plastics.htm
** Plastics in Automotive Markets Technology Roadmap – A New Vision for the Road Ahead, March
2009, American Chemistry Council, Plastics Division.
Other sources
Society of the Plastics Industry, www.plasticsindustry.org
EPA, http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/plastics.htm
American Chemistry Council, www.americanchemistry.com/plastics
Acumen
Earth911, www.earth911.com
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
PLASTICS
The recycling rate for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density
polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bottles is 37 percent and 28 percent respectively.
Recovery of plastics for recycling is approximately 2.1 million tons annually.*
recycling
RECYCLING PLASTICS
Vehicle maintenance is the simplest, most
inexpensive and effective way to make a
car, truck, SUV or minivan “environmentally
friendly.”
Examples of environmentally-beneficial routine vehicle maintenance from the Car
Care Council include:
•
•
•
•
•
4% improvement on gas savings from tune-up
3% increase in gas mileage from properly inflated tires
10% increase in gas mileage from replacing dirty or clogged air filter
2 mpg enhancement by replacing dirty spark plugs
1 mpg gain from regular oil change
Environmental Impact
In addition to cutting down on air pollution, vehicle maintenance, whether
performed at the repair shop or done by the do-it-yourselfer, leads to the
additional environmentally-friendly practices of recycling parts, fluids and
materials.
Billions of quarts of used engine oil are recycled every year from oil changes,
keeping the oil from polluting our ground or water.
Millions of tires, batteries, hoses, belts, plastics, solvents and other components
and materials are recycled every year, keeping them out of landfills and water
resources.
Remanufacturing automotive parts removed from a vehicle typically reuses about
88% of the original raw materials.
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
MAINTENANCE
Maintaining vehicles to keep them operating properly, efficiently and cleanly has
a direct positive impact on the environment. Regularly maintained vehicles are
more efficient, thus using less fuel and polluting less. Routine tune-ups, properly
inflated tires, the replacement of dirty air, fuel and oil filters, regular oil changes
all minimize energy use and pollution, and extend the useful life of the vehicle,
saving the energy and resources required to build new vehicles.
vehicle
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
For more than 20 years, the automotive service
industry has been instrumental in recovering and
recycling mobile air conditioning (a/c) refrigerant
to prevent ozone layer destruction and minimize
greenhouse gases.
$1.5 The phase out of R-12 under the Montreal Protocol agreement and the subsequent
transition to R-134a – the predominant refrigerant in today’s motor vehicle a/c
system – have required significant commitment, change and expense for the
automotive service industry for more than 20 years.
To prevent the release of refrigerants during the servicing of motor vehicle a/c
systems and ensure recycling of used refrigerants per Section 609 of the Clean
Air Act, today’s technicians are trained and certified and use approved refrigerant
recovery equipment. Automotive service facilities also adhere to safe disposal,
equipment certification and recordkeeping requirements.
Environmental Impact
Through proper recovery and recycling efforts, the automotive service industry
helps protect the environment by preventing the harmful release of refrigerants into
the atmosphere.
Emissions of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), as well as other certain synthetic chemicals, destroy the Stratospheric Ozone layer that shields the Earth from the sun’s
harmful ultraviolet radiation and have created an ozone hole over the South Pole.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) refrigerant (R-134a) does not deplete the ozone layer,
however, it is a potent greenhouse gas that has a high global warming potential
(GWP) that is approximately 1,400 times greater than carbon dioxide.
The industry is in the process of identifying alternatives for the refrigerant R-134a
in continuing efforts to reduce emissions from mobile a/c refrigerant.
*F.A. Vogelsberg, “An Industry Perspective: Lessons Learned and the Cost of the CFC Phaseout.” (R-12 is also known as
CFC-12 and various trade names, such as Freon ® ).
The Automotive Aftermarket’s Green Story
A/C REFRIGERANT
billion was spent by the U.S. auto
service industry to purchase
refrigerant recovery machines and tools, plus
ensure certification of all service technicians
during the transition from R-12 to R-134a.*
recycling
RECYCLING
A/C REFRIGERANT