Innovation

As an innovative leader, Sully formulated strategies to become environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. After extensive research and studying the practices of more than 18 green certification organizations, he chose Certified Green Partners located in Miami. This is because of their rigorous standards and initiatives, which are more aligned with Sully’s ideas, besides the fact that he also likes supporting local businesses. Certified Green Partners' website praises ECO-Friendly Auto Center as offering “exceptional eco- friendly services for those that want to play a part in helping the environment.”

ECO-Friendly Auto Center is an active supporter of reducing carbon to improve the environment. For these reasons, the shop uses G-Oil for motor oil changes, the only biodegradable oil approved by the American Petroleum Institute. When comparing the cost of biodegradable oils to full synthetic oils, the savings are about 34 percent. Furthermore, Sully points that it takes about 85 percent less energy to re-refine oil than it does pumping out oil from the ground.

The company also buys brake oil cleaner products in bulk from a company in Canada. The cleaner is made out of a type of peat moss that encapsulates the hydrocarbons. This makes the oil disposable as regular garbage. “Most auto repair shops buy cans of brake cleaners for about four dollars a can and go through a lot of them.... here I buy 5 gallons and I refill the containers. I probably go through 40 aluminum cans a month, so this is how much less is wasted.”

In our conversation, Sully stressed the importance of the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. “We try to recycle everything we can.” There are many more innovative initiatives taking place at ECO-Friendly Auto Center described under the Business Benefit section below.

Inspiration

1. Sully Dawson is not a mechanic and did not know much about the auto repair industry when he laid the foundation for his auto repair business. His background was in human resources and business operations as an executive for major corporations. He holds a BS in Micro & Molecular Biology and a Masters of Science in Management.

   He acquired the knowledge of recycling in the military and became inspired to become an eco-friendly business. “I started interviewing companies asking them about what made widget A better than widget B and came across all these products that were green and better for the environment while being cost-effective," Sully said. "We replaced some of the products that most other businesses use with products that were friendlier for the environment.”

   He decided to research successful environmentally-friendly auto repair businesses and travelled to observe them in person. For this purpose, he traveled to San Francisco, Washington, Oregon, New Jersey and Phoenix. He adds, “I took the best practices that I could afford and incorporated them in here.”

Overall impact

ECO-Friendly Auto Center’s sustainability efforts have a powerful ripple effect that has

brought, and will continue to bring, positive changes for its business, its customers, the community and our world. ECO-Friendly Auto Center makes a difference with it's sustainable business practices as well as customers who choose to go to an eco-friendly auto center for their vehicle repairs or maintenance.

Additionally, Sully brings his previous expertise in corporate human resources into his business by creating a positive work environment for his employees and offering competitive pay.
Sully also believes in supporting local suppliers as much as possible and giving back to the community.

Sully faced an initial challenge when he started ECO-Friendly Auto Center concerning.the name of the business. “I though it was an amazing name, you know, I even trademarked it. The problem is that everyone assumes that anything that is green is going to be expensive. People had the idea that coming here was like going to Whole Foods and paying $8 for organic potatoes.”

ECO-Friendly Auto Center has been featured in the news in several occasions as an example of success in environmental consciousness. It has also won several awards:

• - Small Business of the Year 2011, 2012, and 2013 from The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce

• - Received proclamation from mayor of Oakland Park making March 7th, 2012 ECO- Friendly Auto Center Day.

• - Emerald Award winner from Broward County Commission awarded for being top green small business in Broward County.

Business benefit

While addressing environmental issues, ECO-Friendly Auto Center also lowers its costs when it:

• - Uses biodegradable G-oil and other green-friendly products.

• - Recycles antifreeze and other fluids like: brake, transmission, power steering, engine oil,

  differential oil, and Freon.

• - Buys in bulk, also reducing packaging.

• - Takes in batteries, tires, oil filters, and scrap metals for proper disposal or recycling.

• - Has shop towels and uniforms cleaned by a professional laundering service.

• - Has the entire front office and door made of glass from wall to wall, allowing the

  natural light to illuminate the office during business hours, also saving energy.

• - Encourages employees and customers to turn off the lights in areas when they are not in

  use.

• - Recycles all metal and plastic parts removed from the vehicles during repairs.

• - Recycles all the garbage.

• - Recycles printed-paper, used envelopes, old magazines and newspapers.

• - Recycles unwanted cardboard boxes.

• - Purchases products made of paper and other recycled materials: printing paper and cups.

  ECO-Friendly Auto Center sustains a green-friendly attitude without sacrificing quality, costs or performance, while directly contributing to the following targets of the United Nations sustainable development goals:

  6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
  8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.

  12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.12.6 Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

  14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.”

Social and environmental benefit

ECO-Friendly Auto Center understands the challenges to our environment from working in an industry that utilizes oils, chemicals and accumulates extensive amounts of plastic, metal and other contaminating materials.

To clear this dilemma, ECO-Friendly Auto Center’s goal is to use oils and other products to the best of its ability, that do no harm to our eco-system, are natural and optimize the environment. These same oils are re-refined or recycled at the oil company’s facility in Tampa to be sent back to the shop and be used again. It also means that all of the fluids that are removed during maintenance jobs like antifreeze are recycled.

ECO-Friendly Auto Center also buys brake oil cleaner in bulk, to reduce packaging, while saving money. They also sell eco-friendly tires made of synthetic rubber, which are composed of plant- derived materials instead of the usual petroleum products.

Interview

Sully Dawson, President