Benefits of getting third party independent certification for your automotive recycling organisation in the UK.
In today's increasingly competitive global market, it has never been more important for organisations of all sizes to improve their efficiency and productivity across a range of key areas.
One way that businesses can achieve this is by getting third party certification.
What is third party certification?
Third party independent certification is a type of evaluation in which an unbiased and external organisation assesses the business against set industry standards and benchmarks to determine whether it complies with best practice. It provides valuable feedback about your overall performance, highlighting not only what you are doing well but also where improvements can be made.
How can third party independent certification benefit your organisation?
Below I have listed just a few of the benefits of getting third party certification for your organisation. It can:
Help you in achieving compliance with industry standards, laws and regulations
Improve efficiency and productivity across key areas such as customer service, work quality or environmental impact
Provide valuable feedback such as areas of improvement, best practices and potential risks
Help you gain a competitive advantage over other companies
Enhance your reputation
There is a clear case for certification and we will explore in more detail in this article, independent certification in the context of the UK automotive recycling industry
How are UK vehicle recyclers raising the standards of the industry?
If you are in the automotive recycling industry, it is more important than ever for you to maintain compliance with various regulations and standards that are in place. To have a competitive edge over other companies, you need to invest time and money into achieving compliance with the required standards.
It can be quite challenging for small businesses or non-certified companies to secure funds for third party independent certification. UK automotive recyclers have been fortunate enough to have the support of the Vehicle Recyclers Association and the financial backing of eBay UK who are looking to raise the standards of the industry. Their sponsorship of the VRAC certification standard has enabled many recyclers to become certified.
UK automotive recyclers are raising the standards of the industry and gaining recognition for their efforts. Insurance companies, collision repairers and mechanical garage repair facilities are focussing their procurement departments on using certified sellers that meet the VRAC standards. eBay VRAC branding on their seller listings help establish trust and authenticity among consumers.
Focus is now on achieving compliance to demonstrate one's commitment to a higher environmental, social, and ethical standard as well as the implementation of documented procedures for environmentally sound management of end-of-life vehicles. These certified sellers are now dismantling end-of-life vehicles in accordance with VRAC certified procedures, which are independently audited every 12 months.
Why is independent certification important to insurers?
Insurance companies in the UK are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of certification and its role in risk management. With rising concerns over traceability, the need for insurers to be vigilant about where they source their materials has become apparent.
Vehicle recyclers who are certified under VRAC membership provide reassurance that their parts are traceable back to the donor vehicle, while providing a quality service from start-to-finish.
As the market moves towards increased transparency, insurance companies and, in my view, vehicle manufacturers will require auto recyclers to meet the required standards of compliance. This will support both commercial and environmental needs of large corporates ultimately securing sales for those that comply.
How about the environmental benefit of reuse over replace?
Recycling or reusing an object is better for our environment if we consider the environmental impacts involved in manufacturing new items from raw materials such as metals and plastics than reusing already produced and serviceable items again and again with no concern for waste management at all.
Recycled parts provide significant environmental benefits. The amount of carbon dioxide that is saved by using re-used parts is considerable. eBay UK have commissioned an independent environmental study by a Earthshine-Group who's head office is in Denmark. The result of this detailed analysis includes a carbon calculator that now calculates on for every part purchased by collision repairers using the eBay Green Parts for Business platform, the Co2 benefit saving in the repair process.
The need to tackle carbon emissions is urgently needed and the automotive repair industry is well placed to contribute to this. UK vehicle recyclers who are certified under VRAC membership have demonstrated their commitment in recycling and re-using materials as opposed to using new parts.
The UK motor vehicle repair sector is a significant producer of carbon dioxide, with circa 50% of the average repair cost being spent on parts, the automotive repair industry will play an important role in overcoming this challenge. Currently nearly all that 50% is spent on new replacement parts. By substituting even 30% of the parts currently used with high quality, cost effective recycled parts from independently certified recyclers, savings can be made in the repair process with significantly less carbon emissions.
Why is third party independent certification important for consumers?
Consumers need to be able to trust businesses they deal with, especially when they are spending significant amounts of money. Certified vehicle recyclers provide assurance regarding the quality of their services and products that they supply to consumers along with a warranty on all parts supplied.
For example, consumers can rest assured that when buying a part from a certified recycler, the part has not only been quality controlled, but also that it has been checked against a recalls register. For these recyclers, the safety of the consumer is always front of mind. Without such disciplines in place, consumers really do not know of the part they are purchasing is in fact safe or a death trap.
The professionalisation of the dismantling industry in the UK will be key to the delivery of a supply chain that is consistent in its offering and therefore sustainable. This consistency will be achieved by raising standards and compliance for all parties involved. The benefits of course are the increased sales to the recycler as evidenced by the fact that on eBay, those recyclers that are VRAC certified and badged, are growing their sales four or five times faster than non-certified recyclers.
This will also deliver the confidence required for large volume buyers, such as insurance collision repairers, to engage meaningfully and strategically with the certified supply chain.
Given the many benefits that certified automotive recyclers have to offer, it is clear why eBay in the UK is supporting them. For example, they can provide assurance regarding quality and safety of their products as well as warranty on all parts supplied, ultimately securing sustainable commercial benefits for those who comply with such standards and regulations. In light if this, it is vital that all professional automotive recyclers are certified and associated with a reputable certification body such as VRAC.