RecyClass has successfully completed its first Automotive & Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) testing campaign, confirming that impact-modified polypropylene (PP) compounds used in demanding application such as automotive bumpers are compatible with mechanical recycling streams in Europe.
The findings provide important evidence for the development of closed-loop recycling systems for plastics in automotive & EEE applications, advancing circularity in these complex sectors.
Conducted under the RecyClass Recyclability Evaluation Protocol for Automotive & EEE Resins, the milestone campaign assessed nine industrial formulations featuring seven elastomer technologies. The results demonstrate that the tested impact-modified PP compounds1) can be effectively recovered and reprocessed without compromising the overall quality of the resulting recyclate, expanding recycling opportunities for high-performance plastics.
While the evaluation focused on automotive bumper applications, the tested materials can also be used in other automotive & EEE applications. The findings will be integrated into the Design for Recycling Guidelines for vehicles, refrigeration equipment, and small electrical & electronic appliances. The guidelines provide manufacturers with practical recommendations for designing recyclable products.
As the first testing campaign specific to the automotive & EEE sector, this initiative marks an important step in strengthening the technical knowledge needed to advance plastics circularity in demanding applications. RecyClass’ continuous development of scientific recyclability assessments will play a key role in helping the industry anticipate the requirements of European legislation, including the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation.
RecyClass welcomes industry collaboration in future testing campaigns to further generate scientific knowledge on recycling in the automotive & EEE streams. By testing new innovations and technologies, stakeholders can take an active role in shaping robust methodologies and identifying the most effective routes towards plastics circularity.
Source: RecyClass
1) Read the full RecyClass Technical Review for detailed information on the tested formulations and the associated thresholds evaluated as fully compatible.
