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Happy Global Recycling Day. According to the Global Recycling Day website, recyclables save over 700 million tonnes in CO2 emissions per annum, a saving projected to increase to 1 billion tons by 2030.

As consumers, we have witnessed a significant shift in attitude and behaviour when it comes to recycling and reusing, with consumer demand driving change across the globe.

The automotive industry has always been driven by innovation and consumer demand, making vehicles one of our most highly-recycled consumer products. Numerous parts are either routinely reused in other vehicles or repurposed at their end of life. Metals, tyres, engine oil and many more component parts in our vehicles have been routinely recovered and recycled for many years but the EU’s End of Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive aims to make the dismantling and recycling of end-of-life vehicles even more environmentally friendly. The 11th amendment to the ELV, due to come into force this year, focuses on ensuring individual automotive components are manufactured and built from the outset with sustainability in mind, ensuring they can be dismantled and recycled at the end of their lifecycle.

OEMs are increasingly working in partnership with Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers to ensure materials are durable, lightweight and energy-efficient and provide environmental benefits passed on through the supply chain and onto the consumer.

Steve Mathers, Group Commercial Director for CCL Design Automotive commented:

“Europe is leading the way with these changes, with Asian and American markets quickly catching up. Historically McGavigan, was always highly regarded as an innovative force within the automotive industry, working with customers to create more streamlined, lighter and more integrated interior components over many decades. Now as part of CCL Design, we have access to international Research & Development teams working across mobile, electronics, and consumer markets, developing materials and products that help meet the increasing climate challenges faced across so many sectors.

“The mobility sector’s megatrends will see significant shifts in how we travel, from electric vehicles to autonomous driving, greater connectivity, and an increase in shared mobility; the sector is working hard to create a more sustainable future for the planet.”

Creativity and innovation is key to fighting climate change and OEMs are investing heavily in a range of recycling projects including:

• In September last year BMW unveiled its compact electric car using only recycled and recyclable materials, the BMW i Vision Circular. It also announced its plan to sell 10 million electric vehicles by 2031, double its previous target.
• In June 2021 Audi, working in partnership with researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) announced their pilot project “Chemical Recycling of plastics from automotive manufacturing” was complete and results showed that Chemical Recycling of mixed plastic waste is both technically feasible and environmentally and financially promising.
• In 2020 Groupe Renault announced its plan to create its REFACTORY in Flins, the first European circular economy site dedicated to mobility. Working with a network of partners the site will revolve around 4 poles of activity, putting into practice the principles of the circular economy at each stage of the vehicle life cycle and mobility.