The end-of-life vehicle (ELV) Directive’s update will provide a significant opportunity to improve the circularity of plastic components in vehicles.

It is probable that the directive will have a significant impact on auto parts, as it will introduce an exclusive objective for recycling and reusing plastic car components.

Thus far, only a general target has been set on the recycling of all plastic and non-plastic parts of vehicles. 89.6 % of car parts and materials were recycled and reused in weight as of 2019. This is a favorable news. Although heavy-materialized materials such as steel are commonly recycled, it is not always the case for lightweight plastics.

Firstly, it is important to pay attention to the upcoming Commission proposal. Two key factors will play a crucial role. Initially, only plastics categorized as ‘post-consumer plastics’ will qualify as ‘recycled’ to fulfill the new reuse and recycling objectives. This implies that plastics labeled as ‘recycled’ must originate from vehicles that were previously in use, rather than from industrial waste.

Second,  Furthermore, it is imperative to establish rigorous regulations for part repair and disassembly, implement a comprehensive product passport system containing essential details, and enforce prohibitions on specific harmful chemicals commonly found in part production processes which hinder recycling efforts.

To make sure that rules are clearly defined also at the technical level, the European Commission will request the development of new standards to underpin legislation in parallel.

Standards as such will be a crucial element of the climate transition. Many new environmental laws rely on details set by standards, which define, for example, what we mean by biodegradable plastics or repairable appliances. For auto parts, they define, for instance, test methods relating to safety requirements for laminated glass used on windshields or tempered glass on side and rear windows, making sure they are shatter-proof.