Turning plastic packaging into automotive components – recycling management for expanded polypropylene (EPP) – this is the first article on our recycling system which we have established together with the material manufacturer JSP International/ France (JSP).
In principle, recycling is not a new topic for the automotive industry. It has been trying for years to recycle a large part of its plastic waste, and the proportion of recycled material in individual vehicle parts has been increasing continuously for years. However, the development has been accelerated by the new EU requirements and sustainability programs. Until now, however, component producers still had reservations about using them in safety-relevant areas. The mechanical properties varied too much.
To ensure a cycle of materials, we collect load carriers made of EPP from automotive manufacturers and suppliers, recycle them and supply the resulting material to JSP. With about 4500 t/a, reusable packaging from the automotive sector is an important source. JSP then uses the PP regranulate to produce EPP Arpro 5134 RE with a recycled content of 25 percent. This not only conserves resources, but also saves up to 12 percent CO2(e) emissions compared to virgin material. Nevertheless, there is no loss of mechanical properties or processability.
In order for the recyclate to be used for safety-relevant areas in automotive construction, stringent quality assurance and cooperation between the recycler and the material manufacturer is necessary. In this way, we work together with JSP to achieve equivalent mechanical properties, emissions and combustion behavior to virgin material, so that components made from Arpro 5134 RE can also be used for bumpers and pedestrian protection.
As the recycling of the material is independent of the manufacturer, we control the material flows throughout the entire chain – from the supplier to our own processing facilities and are in the process of expanding our sources. For example, we will soon be taking over EPP containers in France, Poland and Italy.
