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Over the last few months, we’ve highlighted leaders in Subaru’s Eco-Friendly Retailer program and talked with management to find out what’s working. They shared tips, strategies and recommendations, including how to grow an internal green culture and get started with eco-friendly efforts.
1. Form a Green Team
At Patriot Subaru in Saco, ME, eco-friendly practices are built into everything at the store, from recycling to shutting down equipment after hours and maintaining a vegetable garden on site. Owner Adam Arens shared how Patriot’s journey included forming an internal green team to monitor eco-friendly practices and research and suggest new initiatives.
“Our green culture came about through an analysis of our business expenses and how we could reduce them. At the same time we looked at how we could become more eco-friendly,” Arens said. “When we did this we formed a green team. The team has representatives from all departments and met during business hours. We then reported the why and what for buy-in of the entire store. We now have a culture that includes a save the earth philosophy.”
Susan Idlet, marketing manager at Adventure Subaru in Fayetteville, AR, affirms the importance of a green team and suggests retailers “recruit green team members from all departments—sales, office, service, etc. Look for likely candidates—ones you know who are already eco-conscious and who will take ownership of their position on the green team.”
2. Engage associates
Once a green team is formed and eco-friendly priorities identified, retailers stress the importance of gaining support from associates.
“Make sure everyone understands that being eco-friendly is an important part of your company culture,” Idlet said.
To get started, Idlet recommends running an internal campaign with the staff, addressing green priorities during new employee orientation and devoting a section of the employee handbook to eco-friendly practices.
Mike Aguilar, director of marketing at Mark Miller Subaru in Salt Lake City, UT, says all associates are encouraged to participate in the company’s sustainable programs, including community tree planting and recycling events. This involvement engages employees and strengthens the green culture.
3. Make it Easy
“Everyone is very busy doing the work at hand; it’s asking a lot to have staff take the time to focus on eco-friendly activities and initiatives,” Idlet admits.
Making green efforts easy, convenient and part of the day-to-day process is important. “We placed recycle bins all around the dealership so that customers and staff can recycle many of the things that were formerly being thrown away,” says Rocky Rawstern, digital media manager at Southern Oregon Subaru and certified master recycler.
Rawstern added, “Recycling is built right into our processes. Unbox a part? Put the cardboard right into the cardboard recycle bin. Don’t need a paper report? Either drop it in the recycle bin, or shred it for later collection and recycling.”
4. Don’t forget recruitment
Planet Subaru in Hanover, MA, highlights its commitment to the environment on its website. Planet’s president, Jeff Morrill, says an unintended benefit is that applicants research Planet online and learn about these eco-friendly priorities, which increases the number of like-minded applicants.
According to Aguilar, everyone that joins the Mark Miller Subaru team knows upfront about the retailer’s dedication to sustainable practices. “It’s not new that we recycle. It’s not new that we use solar energy. It’s not new that we plant trees. Everybody knows that from the beginning, and I think what it does is it drives a certain type of person to work for our organization,” he says.
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