Circular Economy News — Week 40
summary about last week 40
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1. Audi Uses Recycled Plastic Compounds with 76% Production Waste to Cut CO2 Footprint in New Q6 e-tron 🚙
In collaboration with suppliers Kunststofftechnik Wiesmayer and RSH Polymere, Audi has started using recycled materials in visible parts for the new Audi Q6 e-tron. This project focuses on replacing virgin plastics with recycled compounds to decrease the overall CO2 emissions in production while maintaining high quality.
• The recycled compounds contain approximately 76% production waste from the plastics processing industry, also known as Post-Industrial Recycled (PIR) materials.
• Audi aims to increase the share of recycled materials in future vehicle generations, focusing on various materials, including plastics, steel, aluminum, and glass.
• The use of recycled plastics has a notable environmental impact. For example, the recycled compound used in the air ducting part for Audi has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 0.309 kg CO2-equivalent per kilogram of recycled plastic, compared to 1.68 kg CO2-equivalent for the comparable virgin PP MF 20 material.
• Audi, Wiesmayer, and RSH Polymere are also developing materials that include 20–40% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, pushing the limits of recycled plastic use in automotive applications.
• This initiative is part of a broader industry trend, with other car manufacturers like Dacia also recently announcing the use of recycled materials in their vehicle production.
Audi’s commitment to integrating recycled materials in its production not only aligns with sustainability goals but also showcases how automotive companies can drive innovation in the circular economy.
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2. Hydro Expands Recycling Capacity in the U.S. to Add 130,000 Tons of Low-Carbon Aluminum to Meet Automotive Demand 🚗
The aluminum company Hydro has announced plans to expand its recycling operations in the United States to address the rising demand for low-carbon aluminum in the automotive sector. The new project aims to enhance Hydro’s recycling capacity significantly, providing more sustainable materials for the automotive industry’s lightweight and efficient vehicle manufacturing.
• Hydro’s expansion will increase its recycling capacity by 130,000 tons annually, a significant boost to its efforts in producing low-carbon aluminum.
• The company’s U.S. operations will now include processing post-consumer scrap, further driving the circular economy.
• Hydro has set ambitious climate goals to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% by 2030. This expansion aligns with these sustainability objectives by offering recycled aluminum as a more eco-friendly alternative.
• The move comes as the demand for recycled aluminum, especially in the automotive sector, continues to grow due to stricter environmental regulations and a push for greener production methods.
• Investments in the recycling facilities will support Hydro’s strategy to provide customers with high-quality, low-carbon aluminum, solidifying its role as a leader in the industry’s shift toward sustainable practices.
This initiative reflects Hydro’s commitment to minimizing its environmental impact while meeting market needs for recycled aluminum in various applications.
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3. Indaver Opens New Chemical Recycling Plant in Antwerp: €100 Million Investment, Processing 26,000 Tons of Plastic Waste Annually by 2024 ♻️
Indaver, a Belgian waste management company, has inaugurated a chemical recycling plant in the Port of Antwerp. The Indaver Plastics2Chemicals (P2C) facility processes polystyrene (PS) and mixed polyolefins (PO) from used food packaging, converting them into raw materials suitable for new packaging. The plant aims to close the loop on packaging waste, reducing the need for virgin raw materials and preventing plastic from ending up in incineration.
• The plant processes 26,000 tons of plastic waste per year, equating to approximately three tons per hour.
• Starting at the end of 2024, the facility will recycle polystyrene from items like yogurt cups and meat trays into pure styrene, which partner companies can use to make new polystyrene products.
• Indaver plans to expand the plant’s capacity to 65,000 tons annually by 2028, requiring a second production line and increasing the project’s total investment to €100 million.
• The recycling process is energy-intensive, but Indaver has optimized it to use electricity generated from on-site solar and wind power.
• Contracts for sourcing recycled material have already been secured with companies like Citeo in France and Fost Plus in Belgium. Meanwhile, firms like Trinseo, Ineos Styrolution, and Total Energies have committed to purchasing the recyclate.
Indaver is also in talks to build additional recycling plants across Europe, aiming to lead the continent’s circular economy efforts and support EU recycling targets.
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4. NASA Launches “Waste to Base” Competition: Seeking Solutions for Lunar Waste Management with a $1.5 Million Prize 🌕
NASA has launched a new competition to find innovative ways to manage waste on future lunar missions. The “Waste to Base” challenge encourages participants to propose novel methods for converting mission waste into useful resources. This initiative is part of NASA’s broader efforts to develop sustainable technologies for space exploration.
• The competition offers a prize pool of $1.5 million to teams that can develop practical solutions for recycling waste materials into usable products on the Moon.
• Solutions must address various waste streams, including packaging, human waste, and other materials generated during extended lunar missions.
• NASA’s challenge underscores the importance of developing closed-loop systems that could also have applications on Earth, contributing to the circular economy and sustainable waste management practices.
• Participants will have the opportunity to shape the future of space exploration while showcasing their expertise in areas such as recycling, waste management, and sustainable resource use.
• This initiative complements NASA’s ongoing Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a long-term presence.
By fostering innovation in waste management, NASA hopes to develop technologies that can support not only lunar missions but also sustainable living practices on Earth.
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5. European Recycling Industry Surges with €100 Million Investments in Advanced Technologies, Boosting Circular Economy 🌱
The recycling industry in Europe continues to expand, with investments in new technologies and facilities driving progress in waste management and resource recovery. Companies across the continent are enhancing their recycling capabilities to meet EU recycling targets and contribute to the circular economy.
• Investment in recycling infrastructure is a key focus, with companies like Indaver and Hydro committing €100 million and 130,000 tons of additional capacity, respectively, as they pursue advanced recycling methods.
• Technologies such as chemical recycling are gaining traction, allowing for more complex plastic waste, like polystyrene and polyolefins, to be converted into high-quality recyclates.
• Collaborations between industry players, such as Audi and RSH Polymere, demonstrate how companies are working together to incorporate 76% recycled content in automotive components.
• This growth reflects the EU’s ambitious recycling goals and regulations, driving the industry to develop more efficient processes and expand the market for secondary raw materials.
The European recycling industry’s growth shows the region’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and the circular economy.
🔗 source
more articles:
- Recycling Realities and Greenwashing Gimmicks: Unveiling the Multi-faceted Nature of Recyclability
- Navigating CSR Reporting in the EU
- Waste is not turning into Value
- Understanding the European Supply Chain Act: A New Era of Corporate Responsibility
- The Future of the Plastic Industry: Navigating Challenges and Seizing Opportunities
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Mattersdorfer
I would call myself a person who is interested in entrepreneurship, sustainability, knowledge-sharing and probably a few other things. I summed up my “big 5 for life” (very much recommend the book, if you do not know it) on my website (👇). After setting up some start-ups in the area of circular economy, combined with continuous curiosity, I decided to share some learnings, thoughts and questions here regularly. I would be happy if you let me know, what you think about them. Cheers!
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