Recycled plastic is on the rise -starting to be used in the automotive industry

Sustainability has become a favorite buzzword in the industry. Automakers are also racing to improve themselves, reusing unsustainable materials into upholstery for seat cushions, floor mats, door panels and dashboards, first with recycled wood, then "vegan" leather and now, Plastic waste, rice husks, flax seeds and agave from the ocean are recycled.

The plastic water bottles we discarded in the past were garbage that polluted the environment, but in fact they are a huge hidden wealth of resources. If they can be reused, these discarded PET water bottles can be turned into treasures and become part of our next car.

There are so many applications of plastics in automobiles, here are some of them:

Engine hood, cooling fan, car water compartment, radiator grill, bumper, filter, wheel cover, car floor, rearview mirror bracket, door handle, fender, lamp bracket, steering wheel, and various interior parts, dashboards, etc.

Plastics in automobiles not only reduce the cost of parts processing, assembly and maintenance, but also make automobiles lighter, energy-saving and environmentally friendly.

According to the data, plastics and their composites are the most important automotive lightweight materials. It can not only reduce the mass of parts by about 40%, but also reduce the procurement cost by about 40%.

At present, plastics are used more and more in the entire automobile industry, accounting for 50% of the average volume of automobiles, which also means that recycled plastics have great potential in the automobile field. With the "environmental protection" concept brought by recycled plastics and the global upsurge of carbon neutrality, car manufacturers have also caught up with the trend and participated in this common "movement" of global human beings.

Ford: About 1.2 billion recycled plastic bottles are used a year

According to foreign media reports, Ford is trying to use recycled waste plastic bottles to create auto parts and use it to reduce carbon emissions.

Thomas Sweder, a design engineer at Ford Motor Company, once said: "Chassis armor is a large part, and if you use solid plastic, it can be three times the weight. Therefore, we look for the most durable and highest performance materials to make parts, while at the same time，strive to create more environmental benefits.”

Recycled plastic is the "dream lover" that Ford has been looking for.

Ford says that because of its light weight, the panels made from recycled plastic are ideal for chassis armor, engine guards and liners for front and rear wheel arches. It also improves the aerodynamics of the vehicle, and better aerodynamics also improves fuel efficiency and reduces energy consumption. In addition, these shields also help to create a quieter interior environment (they have been used on the 2020 Ford Escape)

As early as 2019, according to Ford's estimates, an average of 300 recycled plastic bottles are needed for each car, and about 1.2 billion plastic bottles are needed a year. These recycled waste plastic bottles are melted and extruded into fibers after cleaning and crushing, resulting in sheet metal. , and finally used in chassis armor for Ford SUVs and as wheel linings for Ford F-Series trucks.

It is worth mentioning that as early as the 1990s, Ford began to use recycled plastics.

Recycled plastics are of great significance in terms of technology, economy and environment. At the same time Thomas Sweder said: "This material is very suitable for us to use it to make parts, and it is very practical."

Mercedes-Benz: Concept car with innovative decoration for environmental protection

On the eve of the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Mercedes-Benz's new pure electric concept car VISION EQXX officially made its world premiere.

VISION EQXX uses a lot of recycled waste in the interior, among which the recycled waste PET bottles are used to make a shiny fabric layer to make the door decoration effect.

Inside the car, Mercedes-Benz designers used DINAMICA made from 38% recycled PET bottles to create a surround effect that connects the upper edge of the integrated screen, doors and roof.

In addition, UBQ material is also used in the interior. (This is a sustainable plastic alternative made from household and municipal landfill waste.)

BMW: Concept car is made from 100% recycled materials

At the Munich International Motor Show, BMW released the BMW I Vision Circular, a concept car designed on the principle of "re-research, re-rationalization, and reuse". The new car is made from 100% recycled materials. The concept car is completely designed in accordance with the four principles of the circular economy, and is made of 100% recycled and renewable materials, 100% recyclable.

BMW claims vehicle bumpers are made of recyclable plastic which is the same colour as the body

In addition, BMW's innovative flagship electric vehicle BMW IX, which was launched in Chinese market at the end of 2021, is made of a large number of recycled materials for its interior and fabrics.For example, the fabric/microfiber upholstery is 50% recycled polyester, and the carpet floor mats are 100% recycled nylon.According to reports, the recycled plastic components used by each IX are equivalent to recycling about 59.9 kg of waste plastics.

Audi: Sustainable materials for a zero-carbon future

For German carmaker Audi, sustainable materials are the first step towards carbon neutrality goals.Recycled PET bottles are ground into polyester yarn, which makes up 89 percent of the seat material in Audi's fourth-generation A3 car.In addition, PET bottles are recycled for use in the carpet of the Audi A3.The carpet and floor mats of the all-electric E-tron GT are made from Econyl, a recycled nylon fiber made from fishing nets. The E-tron GT's 20-inch wheels are also assembled from low-carbon aluminum.

"Audi is committed to using sustainable materials, and we are making changes in new car manufacturing," said Spencer Reed, Audi's head of government affairs. "We have very high standards and conduct a thorough review of these products."

The waste plastic we throw away is eating away at our ecosystem step by step.

Today, relying on us, and relying on these leading companies with the same sense of social responsibility as us, take the lead in picking up the waste plastics we threw away and recycling them one by one, giving back to the earth.

Pollution is not created in a day, and governance cannot be done overnight.

The promotion of recycled plastics is not only a general trend, but also an important step to restore the ecology and achieve carbon neutrality

Let's do something for the earth together~

Intop has always been with you.