The research study will develop greenhouse gas emissions information and quantify the carbon footprint reduction associated with using recycled parts.

The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), Manassas, Virginia, has partnered with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts to conduct a nationwide study on the industry’s environmental benefits, particularly in terms of the carbon footprint reduction that using Recycled Original Equipment, or ROE, parts have compared with using new automotive parts.

The study builds on the findings of a 2017 WPI study of professional automotive recyclers in Massachusetts that found that by reclaiming auto parts for reuse and recycling the steel and aluminum that remained in end-of-life vehicles, members of the Automotive Recyclers of Massachusetts (ARM)  reduce the state’s carbon footprint by at least 2.2 million tons of carbon dioxide annually.

ARA Executive Director Sandy Blalock says consumers have used ROE for decades because they offer significant cost savings over new parts. However, she adds, “What we have known for years, but what is not widely understood amongst the general public, is that the choice to use ROE parts also has major environmental implications, with significant savings on greenhouse gas emissions and the climate.â€

The WPI study will investigate greenhouse gas emissions information and related carbon footprint reduction for 10 specific parts of three vehicles: a sedan, an SUV, and a pickup truck. The ARA says the results of the study are expected at the end of the year.

“We look forward to widely promoting the results of this study,†ARA Past President and Massachusetts native Scott Robertson of Robertson’s Auto Salvage in Wareham, Massachusetts, says. “Members of state legislatures and other industry stakeholders have taken seriously the findings of the 2017 ARM/WPI study. We anticipate that the results of a nationwide study will only further illustrate the positive impact that ARA member businesses and recycled parts have on our environment.â€