How to improve your workshop sustainability
What does being more sustainable mean for independent garages?
Here are just five examples of real initiatives garages have told us about through our Fit for the Future award:
- Planting trees around workshop site, boosting biodiversity and supporting carbon capture
- Installing rooftop solar for on site renewable generation, energy consumption reduction and grid pay-back
- Improving recycling of materials including tyres, batteries, scrap metal and oil
- Using recycled parts, including engines, and focusing on repairing rather than replacing
- Supporting employee engagement through cycle to work schemes
These efforts increasingly matter to garage customers. They are looking for workshops to carry out repairs and improvements as sustainably as possible – and mechanics who invest in sustainable and environmental solutions can reap the rewards.
In fact, 65% of UK car or van owners said they would accept paying a higher price for vehicle maintenance products if they delivered environmental or sustainability benefits, according to a TotalEnergies survey.
There are many small ways in which a workshop might make a start on its sustainability journey – last year, the judges from our Fit For the Future award heard from workshops across the UK, who had implemented sustainable changes from installing rooftop solar panels through to supporting local biodiversity and planting trees.
The 2024 Fit for the Future award competition is now open for entries.
