When it comes to sustainability measures, zero is the new goal.

By Lindsey Quick

Efforts around sustainability have been part of the car wash industry for decades, with new innovations aimed at reducing organizations’ footprints while saving money at the same time. Today, there’s a focus on the drive toward zero: zero liquid discharge, zero greenhouse gas emissions, zero on your electricity bill, zero water leaks and net zero carbon emissions. 

How Brands Are Driving to Zero
Solar Express Car Wash was designed to be environmentally friendly from the ground up, said Seth Zweben, general manager. With seven wash locations in California, where limited resources are a reality, Solar Car Wash keeps environmental issues top of mind. “While cost is the bottom line in business, impact to the world around us is real,” Zweben said.

Today, Solar Express Car Wash focuses on photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and water reclaim. “Both of these functions play key roles in a quality wash, but we also value the environmentally friendly aspects they bring to the table,” Zweben said. “Express washes have substantial energy usage and although the PV system is costly up front, it cuts our energy bill in half, and we have reused more than 4 million gallons of water.”

Like Solar, Mint Eco Car Wash, with locations in Southeast Florida, is also centered in sustainability. “Our goals around zero waste are central to how we operate, particularly in the way we optimize our car wash systems,” said Maria Teixeira, marketing director at Mint Eco. 

To accomplish this, Mint Eco has implemented several practices to minimize waste, including equipment timing to ensure zero waste of chemicals, water and electricity using synchronized tunnel functionality; their ultra flex system to ensure every drop of chemical is used, which includes containers that are designed to be placed upside down on reservoirs to allow them to drain completely, leaving no unused product behind; and recycling initiatives to ensure materials are repurposed rather than discarded. 

Supporting car wash operators in these efforts toward zero are suppliers and vendors who have found a niche in providing products, consulting services and consumer education as part of their value offerings while meeting their own desires to make a difference environmentally. 

“We started working on our own water reclaim system in 2021 and officially launched it in 2022,” said Dan St-Jacques, marketing manager for Hoffman innovateIT.

As car wash operators themselves with Hoffman Car Wash, water reclamation has always been something they’ve cared about. “Water and sewer costs are some of the biggest expenses for any wash,” St-Jacques said. “The better you can efficiently manage your water usage, the more profitable your operation can be.” In addition to managing costs, more state and municipal regulations require car washes to recycle water. “Having a reliable reclaim system isn’t just a good idea — it’s quickly becoming a necessity,” he said.

ShockWater Car Wash Systems is another supplier supporting car wash operators in achieving zero water discharge. “It’s an ambitious but attainable goal,” said Stephen Saint-Vincent, chief technology officer for ShockWater. “It requires replacing outdated, decades-old water treatment facilities with cutting-edge regeneration systems. Some of our clients operate at or near zero discharge, using flow meters on their interceptors to verify minimal or no wastewater release,” he said.

Reducing Waste by Building Efficiencies
Hoffman innovateIT supports car wash operators working toward “zero” goals in a few ways, all of which focus on increasing efficiencies. While the majority of their products focus on water reuse systems, Hoffman strives to ensure their systems are environmentally conscious in other ways as well. “Our reclaim water systems dramatically reduce water waste, but they are also designed to optimize energy usage, reducing consumption without compromising performance,” St-Jacques said. “Automated controls and intelligent system designs help operators cut energy costs while minimizing their carbon footprint.

“All our systems prioritize resource conservation, whether it’s through smarter water management, reduced chemical usage or high-efficiency automation,” St-Jacques said. And the benefits can be exponential. “This results in reduced utility bills through water reuse and energy-efficient systems, staying ahead of environmental regulations and minimizing reliance on water and energy, ensuring stability despite rising costs.”

Mint Eco focused on building efficiencies to expand its commitment to sustainability by adding eco-friendly products in their detail business; increasing water conservation through the prevention of leaks, optimizing flow rates and enhancing their monitoring processes; and saving energy.

They’ve also partnered with National Carwash Solutions to use ultra-concentrated chemicals to cut down on packaging. “This significantly reduces the carbon footprint of our business,” Teixeira said. “By switching to this packaging, we’ve minimized shipping emissions and reduced waste associated with traditional chemical containers.”

Wash operators who are considering implementing these efforts should start small and scale up, said Steve Samudio, technical sales manager at NCS. “Begin with achievable goals, such as reducing water waste and gradually move toward full zero-discharge operations as resources and capabilities allow,” he said. “By taking these steps, operators can confidently progress toward zero while enhancing efficiency, reducing costs and building a more sustainable business model.”

When Costs – and Geography – Create Challenges
Despite the desire to make the move toward zero, it isn’t always easy and comes with considerations. In some cases, it’s where a wash is located. 

In parts of the United States where salt is used to mitigate safety concerns during inclement winter weather, a water recycling goal of zero may be impossible. “Those states would have an enormous level of salt and dissolved solids in the water,” said Tom Hoffman, CEO of Hoffman Car Wash. 

Hoffman also expressed concerns about the goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions, especially in cold climates. “In the Northeast United States, we get about 13% to 19% on average of our rated output of solar panels because we have lots of clouds,” he said. “Heating water with electricity, and using electric heaters, is expensive here.” 

The expense of purchasing equipment designed to help with sustainability initiatives can be expensive too — no matter where your site is based. “These efforts can include significant upfront costs,” St-Jacques said. 

Solar Express Car Wash’s Zweben echoed that sentiment. “Although we would like to increase our PV solar system size, additional PV panels have diminishing returns due to construction costs,” he said. Instead, the team plans to focus on expanding their efforts around their water reclaim system. 

Zweben’s hope is that as sustainability efforts grow in popularity, the effectiveness will increase as well, noting that today, not all options are perfect. “In the future, as these features are more commonplace, we think they can be improved to the point where something close to net zero is realistic,” he said. 

Raising Awareness 
Part of moving the needle toward more acceptance is ensuring your potential customers — and possibly your business partners — are aware of the benefits. Building a culture of sustainability can require ongoing education and engagement. One organization, the Project WET Foundation, helps car wash operators address these challenges by providing education-focused tools and strategies to support their sustainability goals while building strong community connections. 

“Our work focuses on providing educational tools that help employees and communities understand water, how it’s used in car wash operations, and using that knowledge to inspire behavior change,” said Morgan Close, vice president of projects and programs for the Project WET Foundation. One of their car wash partners is Mister Car Wash. Project WET collaborated with Mister to focus on educating communities about the journey of water and the importance of responsible water practices. Project WET has also engaged the Mister employees, empowering them with knowledge to confidently communicate the company’s environmental efforts.

“This partnership positions Mister Car Wash as a leader in water stewardship while fostering a stronger connection between their business and the communities they serve,” Close said. Additionally, Project WET is in the planning stages of a partnership with NCS and is eager to expand offerings to other car wash operators committed to sustainability.

“Efforts toward zero are critical for protecting freshwater resources, reducing environmental impact and supporting a sustainable future for water-intensive industries,” Close said.

Customers Are Taking Notice
Operators and vendors alike are hearing from consumers about a preference for brands that are aware of their carbon footprint. “This is a growing customer base, and they value sustainability,” said Hoffman innovateIT’s St-Jaques. 

Results from the International Carwash Association’s Q3 2024 Pulse survey drove that point home. 71% of consumers said they would be either a little or a lot more interested in washing their car more often if the car wash was environmentally friendly. When asked how important it was that their local car wash cares about the environment, 65% said it was either very or extremely important to them, and 60% said their local car wash recycles the water it uses.

Samudio from NCS recommends highlighting your commitment to environmental responsibility with your customers. “Marketing your zero-discharge system or other sustainable practices can differentiate your business and attract eco-conscious consumers,” he said. “In a competitive market, promoting your car wash as green sets you apart. Sharing your story adds a unique and marketable dimension to your business, enhancing your reputation.”

Do Efforts Toward Zero Add Up?
While there are challenges to overcome, from costs to community education, many operators and vendors are committing to the efforts and seeing success: reductions in both energy and water usage, lower operational costs, and increases in customer loyalty and community goodwill. 

It’s also possible that these efforts can increase one’s operational flexibility. “Some systems can function without access to municipal sewage, which opens new location opportunities,” Saint-Vincent said.

In addition, with many regions tightening regulations on water usage and discharge, getting ahead of the curve on these efforts could pay off. “Proactively adopting environmentally friendly practices helps future-proof your business against potential compliance costs or restrictions,” Samudio said.

While the car wash industry is not currently regulated, it’s not stopping operators from holding themselves accountable. In 2022, Mint Eco drafted its own standards in the form of an environmental audit, which is then posted online for transparency. “We committed to performing this audit annually and using it as a guide for operations at all our sites,” Teixeira said. “With this clarity, and our commitment to consistently bringing a critical eye to our operations and our standards, we hope to demonstrate that a car wash can be both successful and environmentally friendly.” 

“Each car wash has individual needs, requirements and values they have to sort out,” Zweben said. “We feel good and are proud of what we are trying to do. We value these environmental aspects of the wash and we want to contribute to a sustainable trajectory for the world we live in.”