As global environmental consciousness rises and regulatory standards become more stringent, the automotive sector is recognizing the imperative of plastic recycling to foster sustainable progress. Addressing this need, Covestro, a leading materials manufacturer, is collaborating with automotive partners to champion the concept of car-to-car closed-loop plastics recycling. This innovative approach is poised to address the automotive industry's plastic waste management challenges effectively.

Through a joint pilot program initiated by the German federal enterprise GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), Covestro and its partners aim to establish closed-loop pathways for high-value plastics extracted from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). The objective is to develop an efficient and sustainable recycling system for automotive plastics, thereby promoting the industry's transition towards greater sustainability. This pilot program was unveiled at Covestro's booth during the CHINAPLAS 2024 international trade fair held in Shanghai. Key collaborators comprise leading automotive manufacturers like NIO from China and Volkswagen, the Chinese recycling entity GEM, and independent certification organizations such as TÜV Rheinland.

"We are delighted to collaborate with aligned partners across the value chain to lead the way in closed-loop plastic recycling within the automotive industry," expressed Lily Wang, Global Head of the Engineering Plastics Business Entity at Covestro. " By combining our capabilities and resources, we are ready to create a closed-loop recycling system for automotive plastics, reducing waste and carbon emissions from the outset while improving resource utilization. Through this collective initiative, our goal is to accelerate the automotive sector's journey towards a more environmentally conscious and sustainable future."

"The automotive industry represents one of the most resource-intensive sectors worldwide, yet the valuable plastics derived from ELVs are largely underutilized," remarked Martin Hofmann, Cluster Head overseeing Climate, Energy, Environment, and Biodiversity at GIZ. " GIZ is spearheading an innovative effort to explore closed-loop avenues for valuable plastics from End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs). I am confident that GIZ and our partners can pave the way for the transition to a sustainable, circular economy."

Within the pilot program, a dedicated team will investigate techniques for recycling and treating discarded polycarbonate elements, like end-of-life car headlights, to produce post-consumer recycled (PCR) polycarbonates. These recycled materials will subsequently find reuse in diverse interior and exterior automotive applications, conserving resources and diminishing carbon emissions.

This could provide crucial, sustainable resolutions for the automotive manufacturing sector, which demands compliant and high-performance post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials amid ever-tightening regulations. For instance, in 2023, the European Commission introduced a new regulation to bolster the circularity of the automotive industry, stipulating that 25 percent of plastics utilized in new vehicles must originate from recycling, with 25 percent sourced specifically from end-of-life vehicles.

Covestro will additionally present further automotive industry solutions at its CHINAPLAS 2024 booth, including an intelligent front grill and a mono-material polycarbonate headlamp, tailored for an interconnected and sustainable future.