Playing catch-up in plastics recycling for automotive production

KIT Audi pyrolysis oil from plastics

A closed loop for plastics in the automotive industry has so far been a distant dream, as an unmanageable variety of mixed materials makes recycling them into new high-quality materials unviable. Fortunately, there are some promising new approaches on the horizon.

Around 150 different types of plastics are used in car manufacturing and they account for between ten and 20 percent of the total weight of a car. That figure continues to rise, as increasingly sophisticated materials are making lightweight construction affordable. According to the German Association of the Plastics Converters, 100kg of plastic can replace up to 300kg of other material. Lightweight vehicles are good for the environment because they have lower emissions, but when they are difficult or impossible to recycle because of the complex mixed materials, that gain can end up being a lot less significant.

THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE TO REGISTERED USERS ONLY.

To continue reading this article and others like it, please SIGN-IN or REGISTER FREE today

Join us today for free

AMS Comp Tablet and print phone image 400px

Register free now to stay up-to-date with the latest industry developments, trends, and analysis, to find in-depth reports and intelligence and to connect with your peers.

Your free registration includes:

  • Access to our exclusive content
  • Bi-Weekly enewsletter
  • Option to save articles to a personal library
  • Ability to comment on articles
  • Full access to the digital news archives
  • Ability to manage your profile and communication preferences

Gain access to our exclusive content and features register free today

Non-registered users are able to access two AMS exclusive articles per week. You have now used your allocation.
To continue reading this article and others like it, please SIGN-IN or REGISTER FREE today.