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A pilot run by the Global Impact Coalition — a coalition of BASF, Covestro, LG Chem, LyondellBasell, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, SABIC, Suez and Syensqo — confirms that plastics from end-of-life vehicles can be technically recovered and processed. The main barrier, however, is not technology: it is economic coordination and the absence of a functioning value chain across all actors involved.

The Global Impact Coalition (GIC), a CEO-led organisation of major chemical companies, has published the results of the first phase of its "Automotive Plastics Circularity" project in May 2026: plastics from end-of-life vehicles can be technically recovered and processed at scale, but commercial viability remains the industry's primary challenge.

• Cercetători europeni dezvoltă soluții pentru reutilizarea plasticelor provenite din vehicule scoase din uz (ELV) direct în automobile noi.
• Proiectul urmărește crearea unei bucle „car-to-car” pentru materialele plastice auto.
• Obiectivul este reducerea dependenței de materii prime virgine și creșterea utilizării materialelor reciclate.
• Viitorul regulament european ELV pune presiune tot mai mare pe OEM-uri și furnizori.
• Recuperarea plasticelor tehnice auto devine una dintre marile provocări ale industriei europene de reciclare.

The automotive industry is expanding the use of closed-loop recycling systems for plastics
• Production scrap and materials recovered from End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) are being reintroduced into new automotive components
• Automakers are targeting lower carbon footprints and higher circularity levels
• Plastics remain essential for vehicle lightweighting and efficiency
• Demand for high-quality recycling and material traceability continues to grow across the automotive sector

The European Union is easing proposed recycled content requirements for plastics used in automotive applications
• The new proposed overall target is 20% recycled content
• Out of this, 15% should come from End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) recycling streams
• Main reason: Europe’s recycling and supply infrastructure is not yet sufficiently developed
• Industry stakeholders warn about shortages in sorting and high-quality recycling capacities for automotive plastics

The International Automotive Recycling Congress (IARC) 2026, starting on March 25 in Hamburg, highlights the growing importance of recycling in the European automotive industry. Bringing together up to 300 industry decision-makers, the event marks a critical step toward circularity, with an increasing focus on plastic materials.

Automotive recycling industry gathers at IARC 2026

Comisia Europeană aplică amenzi antitrust pentru înțelegere anticoncurențială privind reciclarea vehiculelor la final de viață.

The new ELV package introduces binding recycled content targets for plastics in vehicles, along with easier dismantling and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Pachetul ELV introduce design pentru demontare & ținte de conținut reciclat (inclusiv plastic). Consiliul a susținut linii-cheie în iunie.