If you’re one of the tens of thousands of aftermarket professionals who attended this year’s AAPEX Show in Las Vegas, you might have noticed that some people were wearing green shoes on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
If you took a long look at those green sneakers, that’s a good thing. It was a fashion statement meant to get your attention.
In recent years, show organizers have designated one day at AAPEX as “Remanufacturing Day.” This year, on Nov. 1, many remanufacturing exhibitors wore green shoes as a way of spreading awareness of the reman industry and its important role in sustainability.
“It really is our way of showing that remanufacturing walks the talk on sustainability,” John Chalifoux declared during MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers’ annual Member & Media Industry Breakfast Briefing at AAPEX.
Chalifoux took the podium – donning green shoes – to shine the spotlight on how the association and aftermarket businesses are walking the talk on sustainability. Chalifoux, who is chief Sustainability Officer for MEMA and COO of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, emphasized that remanufacturers are leading the way.
“We get a lot of questions about the future of remanufacturing,” Chalifoux said. “We all see the changing technologies from A to Z – from ADAS to zero-emissions vehicles, especially battery electric vehicles. Well, the future of remanufacturing is bright.
Remanufacturing will continue to yield the products that are like new but better. They’re like new [in] quality, but they’re a better value and they’re better for the environment.
“As a society, we continue to be driven to reuse as much as possible. The remanufacturing of core material, value-added material, will always be a viable alternative to new – and society will demand it. We’re seeing that more than ever before, and it has and will continue to always make economic sense.”
As remanufacturers and other aftermarket businesses continue to ramp up their green initiatives, sustainability was front and center at AAPEX 2023.
More than 43 exhibiting companies took the Exhibitor Sustainability Pledge to adopt environmentally friendly practices. Through the pledge, companies committed to taking actionable steps to decrease their carbon footprint, divert waste from landfills, conserve water and energy and make more sustainable procurement choices.
Leading up to AAPEX, show organizers presented a free webinar, “Sustainability in the Aftermarket,” and on Nov. 2 hosted a free networking event called “Sustainabili-Tea (and Coffee)” to discuss the latest developments in the industry. AAPEX also hosted the annual Remanufacturing Industry Reception.
The Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers – co-owners of AAPEX – made it clear that remanufacturing is a key component of the aftermarket’s sustainability efforts.
“Even with all the advances in technology, remanufacturers and their suppliers continue to work with vehicle manufacturers, original-equipment suppliers and key distribution channels to deliver service solutions for the changing needs of customers – including end users – in a changing mobility landscape,” the associations declared on the AAPEX website on Day 1 of the show. “Electrification, ADAS, connectivity, battery electric vehicles – nothing is out of scope for the industry that makes parts and components like-new again. As long as we have new manufacturing, we will always have remanufacturing.”
Brought to you by Motorcar Parts of America (MPA).
