Managing our waste responsibly
We manage hazardous and non-hazardous waste responsibly, complying with applicable waste management laws in all jurisdictions of operation and ensuring that relevant disposal certificates are received. Our waste strategy includes a particular focus on recycling to reduce waste going to landfill.
- Ensuring that waste is segregated correctly and removed from sites timeously in line with government’s new gazetted rules to increase recycling and reduce the amount of waste that enters landfill sites.
What we are doing
Responsible waste disposal
All operations must adhere to our waste policy as a minimum; however, each business segment sets its own protocols depending on waste impact and business activities. In the UK, we dispose of all e-waste in line with Europe's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.
The responsible disposal of hazardous waste oil generated from the servicing of vehicles and equipment is a key part of our environmental management. Oil spill kits in workshops and oil leakage tests ensure that when an oil spill occurs, responsible clean-up practices are employed and accurate reporting takes place. Filter and oil separator systems in certain workshops and larger wash bays trap silt, sludge and hydrocarbons.
Various businesses partner with registered waste disposal companies to recycle waste generated in our workshops.
Automation
Traditionally the vehicle selling process was a paper-intensive exercise. However, as advances in technology make it possible for us to automate more of our business processes, we eliminate duplication of processes and reduce the amount of paperwork, while still ensuring that regulatory requirements and customer needs are met. Paper-saving automation includes emailed customer statements, electronic storage of statements and digital signatures. Within the dealership environment, electronic access checks at dealership entrance and exit gates, electronic stock takes, electronic vehicle valuations and electronic reconditioning files all contribute to paper reduction. Some dealerships have also introduced iPads to check-in vehicles for servicing and maintenance.
Key projects like Motus Digital Dealer 
and our digital identity tool digitise the customer's interaction with Motus, enhancing customer experience and enabling customers to digitally provide us with their information. Given that a full vehicle purchasing transaction with policies averages between 150 and 200 pages of paperwork, Motus Digital Dealer and the digital identity tool are expected to result in significant paper savings within the dealership network. Similarly, Car Rental's Ready2Go self-service web portal enables customers to access their invoices and statements electronically, also positively impacting our paper usage.
The single integrated enterprise resource planning system being implemented in Aftermarket Parts is a trading platform that replaces three legacy systems. The new system includes financials, sales, operations and supply chain functionality, streamlining the business, providing real-time data and reducing complexity, resulting in a less paper-intensive environment.
Behaviour change
To reduce paper consumption and correctly source waste at source requires behaviour change. We encourage our people to print on a 'needs only' basis and to store their documents electronically, as far as possible, which also supports our responsibilities in terms of protecting personal data. User ID on modern printers assists targeted engagement with employees identified as heavy users of paper.
2022 performance and key objectives
South Africa
- We increased our focus on waste management at dealership level, launching a recycling initiative to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. Waste recycled included 232 629 kilograms (kg) of batteries (either returned to suppliers or recycled), 2,4 million litres of oil, 1 037 421 kgs of paper and 63 016 tonnes of tyres.
- A waste survey was conducted with the results indicating that there are inconsistencies between how general
waste is managed and what is collected for recycling not only between business segments but also
between operations within a business segment. The least amount of data is available for general waste and
plastic. Based on these results we have planned the following:
- Categorise sites according to their business activity (office, dealership, workshop etc.) and determine the type of waste reporting required per site based on this categorisation.
- Work with business segments to fix gaps in reporting and correct 2022 as a base year. The first round of data collected for 2022 focused on batteries, oil, paper and tyres.
- Once comfortable that our data collection process is robust, update for 2023 and establish trends to inform targets.
- 85 dealerships and Car Rental branches have engaged waste management companies and 95 dealerships employ the services of a responsible service provider to collect and dispose of their waste oil. Recycled items include old oil filters, oil, paper, plastic, scrap steel, aluminium and used batteries. Focus has now shifted to tracking items such as the disposal of tyres, vehicle lights and electronics.
Regions
- The UK recycled 97% of its special waste (workshop waste, oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, mixed fuels etc.), just missing its 2022 target of 98% (2021: 97%). This is still a pleasing performance given that our paper consumption increased year on year due to the return to normal business activity following COVID-19 lockdowns.
- In our commercial vehicles business in the UK we are implementing electronic job cards. The first implementation will be in our Newmarket site in October 2022.
Objectives
- Group: achieve consistent and accurate measuring and reporting for paper, plastic, tyres, batteries and oil, following which we will set waste targets.
- South Africa: develop an eWaste recycling programme.
Case study
In 2020, Mitsubishi embarked on a project to reduce its paper consumption, focusing initially on its head office and PDC. However, with many people working from home during COVID-19, any headway made prior to lockdown was negated when employees returned to the office and back to their old printing habits.
Enhanced monitoring was achieved by working with our printer service providers to acquire monthly usage metrics and ensure that an employee ID is used when a document is printed. Through monitoring we identified the finance department as being the main contributor to paper usage.
We introduced an online document storage solution to process invoices and payments etc. with consumption dropping from an average of 11 139 kgs a month to 5 545 kgs a month, , a 50% decline and returning to our pre-COVID volumes.
Key lessons learnt from the pilot are that habits are hard to break, employee engagement is critical to effectively manage change, and the use of online solutions (electronic authorisations and processing) need to be enforced. Together with Group IT, the project is being refined, before being rolled out more broadly and targets being set.