United States. The Auto Care Association has announced the formation of a new advisory committee focused on environmental sustainability in the auto care industry.
The new Sustainability Committee aims to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability, create a long-term strategy to initiate evolution in industry practices, and highlight companies implementing those practices.
In its initial phase, the Sustainability Committee will focus on four strategic areas: an industry education campaign that encourages sustainable environmental efforts and the promotion of the automotive aftermarket as a sustainable industry; Likewise, the evaluation and incidence of legislative policies that benefit both the environment and the industry.
Moreover, it should provide guidance on the advantages and opportunities of recycling, and finally encourage the exchange of best practices and the improvement of industry standards to be more environmentally friendly.
"The Sustainability Committee emphasizes the industry's commitment to and partnership with sustainability to create a more environmentally friendly future," said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association.
"Business and the environment are closely connected in more ways than one. By reducing our carbon footprint, pollution and emissions, we protect our environment," he said.
"All of our businesses are part of a natural ecosystem that must be preserved for generations to come. If nature and natural resources are compromised, we are also compromised," he added.
The Sustainability Committee is comprised of members of industry-leading associations and sustainability experts who are passionate about the ecological integrity of automotive care industry activities.
Exceptionally, the committee presents perspectives of the entire supply chain; from manufacturers to warehouse distributors, retailers and stores. The founding members are:
Ben Spitz, Parties Authority (Committee Chair)
Stefan Feder, Continental (Committee Vice-Chair)
Malcolm Sissmore, BorgWarner (Member of the Executive Committee)
Joe Stephan, Nexus (Executive Committee Member)
Mike Allen, Federated Auto Parts Distributors, Inc.
Scott Cannon, O'Reilly Auto Parts
Michael Cowan, Honest1 Auto Care
Lee Forman, dynamic car
Don Gebhardt, Valvoline Global
Lisa Gochenour, Highline Warren LLC
Troy Hitchcock, AutoZone
Michael Kitching, GB Remanufacturing Inc.
Theo Lamperis, BBB Industries LLC
Mike Leupold, EnerSys (Odyssey Drums)
Thomas Pajer, Bridgestone
Micah Thompson, Advanced Auto Parts
The inaugural meeting of the Sustainability Committee will take place at Spring Leadership Days (part of Auto Care Connect) on Thursday, May 25. Representatives of interested companies can attend the public part of the committee meeting by registering via this link: autocare.org/connect
