MATERIALS
content, mainly in exterior parts, and responsibility will lie with the manufacturers to boost supply by making cars more recyclable. The industry needs honest discussions, and discussions around remote recycling technology solutions to the processes that we use in terms of separation and recovery. The industry needs to work together to develop a fully integrated recycling process.” However, the legislation has posed
some challenges to automotive manufacturers and recyclers, as Timo Unger, Senior Manager Sustainability and Environmental Affairs at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre, explains: “I’m very happy to see that sustainability and recycling is growing in importance, both in the interests of customers and companies. But an interesting observation from my side is that now that the topic has become ‘sexy’ a lot of different parties are jumping in and end up going through the same learning curve as others did five years ago with regard to materials concepts designed for recycling and dismantling. So there are a lot of great ideas, but they are years behind in terms of learning. This is one of the challenges we see as a company.” Others in the car industry, such
as automotive industry body Acea, have since expressed concern about the availability of suitable recyclable parts and materials in order to meet the European Commission’s targets. According to Acea, the targets do not properly take into account, “imbalances
Alejandro Navazas and Timo Unger discussing the challenges of automotive recycling at the 2023 Greener Manufacturing show in Cologne
in the demand and supply of recycled materials and existing technology gaps.” Additionally, some design features on cars that can make them harder to recycle – such as carbon fibre-reinforced plastic parts – have been made with lightweighting and emissions saving in mind. “Designing with lightweighting
characteristics delivers carbon reduction benefits, fits in with circularity and is done within a non-toxic environment,” adds Unger. “This is something that is totally underestimated by legislators. Additionally, if there is not sufficient recycling material in a particular place, plastics will have to be transported from different
manufacturing countries in order to manufacture parts of cars which then need to be exported again. So there would potentially be more transportation for the sake of complying with recycling, which is something we have to ask ourselves whether that’s really efficient. Don’t get me wrong, nobody in the industry is against the circular economy or against recycling plastic waste, but these considerations need to be taken into account.”
GOOD NEWS FOR RECYCLERS Generally, though the new regulations will likely be seen as an opportunity for those in the recycling industry to increase their focus on creating plastic grades that are suitable for various automotive industries. Those who are able to handle less commonly recycled engineering polymers, such as ABS, may benefit further, while the chemical recycling industry may also be eyeing the legislation in a positive light. The ability to supply recycled polymers that are identical to ‘virgin material’ would remove any concerns regarding appearance, smell or functionality of such recyclates for the automotive sector, particularly if thermoset plastics are the focus.
Around 95% of retired passenger vehicles are processed for recycling every year
For more information visit
www.euric-aisbl.eu/resource-hub/ position-papers
www.engineerlive.com 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
