INNOVATION | AUTOMOTIVE


Europe, said: “While we welcome the retention of the 25% target, Plastics Europe agrees with the Commission proposal for the target to come into force after 72 months, rather than 120 as proposed by the Council. We believe that a minimum target of 25% of recycled content in automotive plastics by applying all recycling technologies, with up to 5% coming from circular sources such as bio-based feedstock, is realistic and achievable.” EuRIC criticised the Council’s proposal: “Lower-


ing the recycled content target from 25% to 15% is a step backwards.” It said: “While we acknowledge that the scope of the recycled content targets remains as proposed by the Commission, the reduction in ambition sends the wrong signal to recyclers, manufacturers, and investors. Maintain- ing the 25% recycled plastic target from post-con- sumer waste – including the 25% closed-loop share – would have sent a clear, coherent signal to scale up investment in circular value chains for plastics.” Members of the European Parliament will vote in September on its own proposal for phased introduction, which received backing at the committee stage in a vote in early July.


Below: Sumika Polymer Compounds is expanding PP recycling capacity in Saint-Martin- de-Crau, France


Global impact Despite uncertainties surrounding circularity policy, plastics and recycling industry groups are partner- ing in projects that anticipate car manufacturers using more recycled plastics. In February, it was announced that a global coalition of leading companies in polymers and recycling – including BASF, Covestro, LyondellBasell, Mitsubishi Chemi- cal, Sabic, Suez, and Syensqo – had joined with Global Impact Coalition (GIC) to launch what they called “the world’s first automotive plastics circular- ity pilot”. Taking place in the Netherlands and Germany, the pilot will dismantle, sort, and recycle plastics from 100 ELVs, testing advanced recycling solutions under real-world conditions. By engaging


1m tonnes ELV plastic recovered in Europe but >80% sent to landfill or incineration (2020) Source: Global Impact Coalition


dismantlers, shredders, and recyclers, the initiative seeks to prove the economic viability of closed- loop recycling at scale. Charlie Tan, CEO of GIC, said: “This collaboration


represents a turning point for the industry. Recycling ELV plastics has long been a challenge, with less than 20% of these materials recycled today. By uniting players from across the automotive value chain – from auto makers to dismantlers, sorters, recyclers and the chemical industry – we are connecting the links to close the loop on plastics.” A report in The Japan News in March said that a


consortium had set targets to incorporate over 15% recycled plastic in car production by 2031, and over 20% by 2036. The initiative aims to enhance domestic plastic recycling and strengthen resource security in response to upcoming EU regulations. The consortium includes the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (which includes Toyota), the Japan ELV Recycler’s Alliance, the Japan Plastics Industry Federation, and government agencies. An action plan outlining these targets was finalised during a meeting at Japan’s Environ- ment Ministry, said the news report. The Japanese government plans to support investment in recycling infrastructure and foster collaboration among automakers, dismantlers, and recyclers, according to the news report. The supply of recycled plastic from ELVs is set to reach 21,000 tonnes annually by 2030, rising to 157,000 tonnes by 2036 and 200,000 tonnes by 2041. A European expansion project by Japanese


group Sumika Polymer Compounds will give it capacity to process 10,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually into recycled PP granules. The €15m project is under construction at its Saint-Martin-de- Crau facility in France. A subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical, Sumika specialises in thermoplastic and elastomeric compounds, supplying 90% of its


12 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | July/August 2025 www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com


IMAGE: SUMIKA


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