Millions of people around the world will be celebrating the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day on Sunday, April 22. The idea behind the day – honoring the planet and all living things that inhabit it – continues to inspire communities in their efforts to make positive strides toward protecting the environment.
The theme of this year's Earth Day is to "Mobilize the Earth." It’s a call to action for all of us, knowing that change will only happen if we all take responsibility on an individual level to ensure a sustainable future. Recycle more. Plant a tree. Take public transportation. Spring clean using "green" products.
And, ask your mechanic to use remanufactured parts when repairing your car or truck.
Remanufactured automotive and truck parts save both energy and material resources by taking old parts that have entered the waste stream and restoring them to like new performance. By extending product life, remanufacturing saves 85 percent of the energy that went into manufacturing the original product, as well as saving the labor and capital costs that are associated with a new product.
Another plus of remanufacturing is that it eliminates any additional "greenhouse gas emissions" that may occur when new parts are made, further preserves landfill space and reduces the consumption of precious natural resources like steel, copper, zinc, aluminum and other metals. A study by the University of Bayreuth in Germany not only found that remanufacturing is three times more environmentally beneficial than new manufacturing but it also generates full product quality at half the price of new.
Buying remanufactured automotive and truck parts is something everyone can do in their effort to live a greener lifestyle. The Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) encourages consumers to take advantage of the environmental and economic benefits of purchasing remanufactured parts – it’s a decision that leaves money in the bank today and a better world for tomorrow.
