A new European Commission study has recommended the automotive industry adopt new rules to increase vehicle plastic recycling and reduce waste.
The supply-chain analysis, published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, examines how plastics move through vehicle design, manufacturing and end-of-life processing. The study finds that most plastics from scrapped vehicles are not recycled back into new cars.
Plastics account for about 14 to 18 percent of a vehicle’s weight. The study finds recycled plastics are used only in small amounts in new vehicle production.
The study identifies several barriers. These include mixed materials, complex components, weak tracking of plastic flows and limited demand from automakers.
“The researchers suggest solutions to some of these barriers, including setting up recycled content mandatory targets to boost plastic recovery and ensure demand at car manufacturers’ level for these recycled materials,” the Joint Research Centre says.
The study finds voluntary measures alone are unlikely to deliver large gains.
“The researchers propose that policymakers combine softer measures, such as economic incentives, with harder ones, like policy targets and regulatory mechanisms,” the report says. It adds that transition periods are needed for more difficult changes.
The study sets out three main policy options. These include voluntary pledges by automakers, mandatory reporting on plastic use and recycling, and binding targets for recycled plastic in new vehicles.
“Guided by these considerations, the researchers suggest three complementary potential policy options.... These include “mandatory targets for use of recycled plastic in new vehicles, to be phased in over a realistic time period.”
The findings are intended to inform upcoming EU rules. It comes as the European Union is preparing legislation to replace the current End-of-Life Vehicles Directive. The commission says the new framework aims to strengthen producer responsibility and improve recycling outcomes.
