With the global shift towards more sustainable futures, and the added pressure on many large companies to take the lead in making environmentally-friendly choices, we thought it would be interesting to take a dive into how the movement is impacting car manufacturers.
While we all still have a long way to go, and it’s been inspiring to see many businesses taking up the challenge to reach a zero CO2 emissions target, the plain and simple truth is that taking these steps is no longer a choice. Our future truly depends on it!
How do manufacturing plants use recycled materials?
Goes without saying, but heavy production requires a significant amount of energy and resources.
Reduced energy usage in manufacturing plants, emissions in new vehicles, and the use of non-renewable resources are all important topics to consider. When it comes to the materials used in vehicle production and what happens to those materials at the end of the vehicle’s life, questions arise.
Non-renewable resources were typically used to develop resources in the past. The goal now is to employ renewable or recycled materials whenever possible, and to ensure that they may be reused when their current use has run its course.
Recycled materials
Major car manufacturers around the world use recycled materials in their vehicles production.
And I have to say, it’s really encouraging to see automakers develop their own inventive and novel procedures for converting plastic waste into high-quality products. These can then be used to make goods for the vehicle’s exterior or inside.
In the production process, these advances eliminate single-use plastics. Not only is plastic recycled, but renewable plant fibres are also employed to replace nonrenewable components, which is pretty cool when you think about it!
Bi-products from sugar cane and agave plants are being gathered for use in environmentally friendly bioplastic. Parts from outdated electrical equipment, for example, can be repurposed and refashioned for vehicle usage.
Where to recycled materials get used, on the car itself?
Well, the list is almost endless!
- Underbody and engine shields
- Air cleaner housings
- Engine fans and fan shrouds
- Wheel arch liners
- Fabrics and seat cushions
- Under bonnet sound insulation
- Dash and centre consoles
- Interior door parts
- Carpets and floor mats
- HVAC temperature valves
- Cam and engine covers
- Carbon cannisters
What about when a car dies?
Previously, most of a vehicle’s materials were difficult to separate, retrieve, and recycle when it arrived at the pearly gates. New ways are being developed to reuse and separate components so that they do not end up in the waste stream and the recycling cycle can continue.
So, it’s safe to say that the changes we’re beginning to see in the vehicle manufacturing industry, while incremental, are well-placed to almost entirely reset the way we think about production and manufacturing. When we think about how these improvements and innovations could positively affect other manufacturing industries, the future starts to look a whole lot brighter!