The European Recycling Industries' Confederation is calling for a high proportion of recycled materials in vehicles.
 

In view of the ongoing discussions on the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (ELVR), Euric is calling on the EU Commission, Parliament and Council in a statement to continue to pursue ambitious targets in this area and to propose targets for the proportion of recycled plastics in vehicles. This is essential to ensure circularity in the automotive sector, promote investment and maintain the plastics recycling industry in the EU, which is facing extremely difficult conditions.
 
On average, 80 percent of end-of-life vehicles were currently either landfilled or incinerated, according to the association's position paper. It says that mandatory recycling targets are essential to aligning vehicle design with end-of-life treatment, promoting demand for circular and low-carbon materials, and preventing material loss. Setting ambitious targets for recycled plastics will also make investments in the EU plastics recycling sector more attractive again. Euric refers to an impact assessment by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. According to this, the targets for the recycled content of 25 percent, of which in turn 25 percent should come from automotive recycling, offer the best cost-benefit ratio, would avoid excessive costs and supply bottlenecks, and provide planning security for manufacturing. Furthermore, according to the JRC, these recycling targets are an absolute prerequisite for achieving the 30 percent plastic recycling target under the ELVR. Without a mechanism to reward the use of recycled plastics in the automotive industry, demand for recyclates would remain low and the targets will not be met. Euric believes that planning security, investment in research and development, and the expansion of recycling capacities are crucial to promoting the circular economy and decarbonizing vehicles. In its statement, the association therefore urges that any reduction in targets or revision clauses that could undermine predictability and affect investment be avoided. Euric also calls for a level playing field for recyclates to be ensured through certification that covers environmental, health and social aspects and is designed to ensure fair competition in the recycling markets. According to Euric, the targets for the proportion of recycled material should specifically relate to the treatment of plastics at the end of their service life and should therefore only be met with post-consumer plastic waste.
 
Sources:

• Press release Euric (3.10.2024)
• Photo: © Documerica / Unsplash (symbolic image)