INDIANAPOLIS — Crew Carwash announced it is increasing its efforts to protect the environment by significantly reducing its use of plastic rear wiper safety bags, according to a press release.

Crew is able to reduce the number of bags used by 95 percent because of new equipment adjustments in the carwash tunnel, stated the release, cutting down the average number of bags used annually from more than one million to fewer than 50,000.

The carwash chain previously used rear wiper safety bags to prevent pieces of wash cloth from getting caught in the wiper blade and pulling it from the hinge during the carwash process, continued the release.

The adjustments to Crew’s wash equipment will help prevent rear wipers from being pulled, added the release, removing the need for the protective bags.

The reduction in the use of safety bags will improve the quality of the carwash and help protect the environment by reducing potential plastic waste, informed the release.

“Our rear wiper bags were never used for advertising purposes, but [rather] to protect our customers’ cars in the carwash process,” said Bill Dahm, CEO of Crew, in the release. “Our new equipment adjustments will allow us to improve the quality of our customers’ carwash and is part of our continuous efforts to protect our environment.”

Except for a few select models, the carwash will no longer place the plastic bags on vehicles, reported the release, and the only vehicles that will still require rear wiper bags are the Honda Odyssey and Honda CR-V.

The new technology has been implemented in all of Crew’s 27 locations, added the release.

Additionally, noted the release, the carwash has installed water reclamation systems at half of its locations, including its newest facility in Brownsburg, which clean and reuse water during certain parts of the washing process.

You can find more information on Crew by visiting its website, www.crewcarwash.com.