Spend any time inside a modern vehicle and it quickly becomes clear just how much of it is plastic. In fact, up to 50% of the volume of a modern car will likely comprise parts made from a series of advanced polymers.
With the industry facing growing demands to make their new vehicles more sustainable, an updated draft of the EU’s End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive is now expected to include strict targets for the use of recycled plastics. This includes the use of 25% recycled content in each new car, with a quarter of this to be derived from ELVs.
One of the most commonly-used plastics is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), used for its strength, stiffness, heat resistance and its ability to adhere to other materials when compared to polypropylene (PP) – another polymer favoured by car manufacturers (OEMs).
There are two main applications for ABS in vehicle interiors and, consequently, two main grades that we currently supply into this sector.
Firstly, ABS can be used as a substrate – making up the majority of many vehicles’ dashboards but covered by other materials which provide the visible finish seen by consumers.
The automotive industry also uses a second, higher grade of ABS which can utilise its strength to create intricate contours and edges while delivering a high-quality finish for more visible applications.
If OEMs are to meet the ambitious targets set out in the ELV Directive, the use of a recycled alternative is essential. Fortunately, amid a global shortage for recycled ABS, MBA Polymers developed a series of brand-new polymers that contain more recycled content than the ABS currently available on the market, all while delivering the consistent high quality that manufacturers demand.
Derived from automotive shredder residue (ASR), ABS 4124 is extremely tough and can be moulded into the defined shape of any dashboard or other component. This enables plastics from older cars to be used in the production of new ones. Once in place it can then be painted, foiled or given the leather-type finish a design may call for.
ABS 4125, meanwhile, is our UL-listed premium grade polymer which is mainly derived from waste electronics (WEEE). The advanced separation techniques employed by our teams ensure this material is as ‘clean’ as possible, reducing contaminants and increasing purity, meaning the material is of a high quality, allowing it to be finished to the high specification required for vehicle interiors.
Launched in 2023, MBA’s recycled ABS includes a market leading 95%+ recycled content and achieves carbon savings of between 75% and 86%, making it among the first recycled plastics to be recognised by the Carbon Trust's Lower CO2 certification.
With the demand for circularity only set to grow, this mixture of innovation, quality and traceability means our company is uniquely placed to meet the needs of manufacturers.
As part of EMR – a global leader in sustainable materials – MBA not only has access to feedstock from the UK’s biggest recycler of ELVs but can also expand its offering to its customers, bringing in the capability of the entire group to solve any recycling challenge they have – from WEEE to wind turbines and beyond.
Both MBA and EMR prioritise purposeful partnerships that drive progress; solving the challenges of tomorrow. MBA recently announced the launch of a new bumper-to-bumper recycling project with OPMobility, which will see the tier-two manufacturer turn the ABS from end-of-life Jaguar Land Rover bumpers into brand-new bumpers for the car maker’s newest models. Containing 30% recycled content, these new parts will comfortably exceed the requirements of the updated ELV Directive.
Projects such as this are only possible thanks to a step change in the openness and collaboration between every link in the supply chain. As it is repeated across the industry, these new circular supply chains will not only ensure that manufacturers meet mandated targets but will help recyclers tackle the 900,000MT of plastic car parts that end up in landfills and incinerators across Europe each year.
So, as you look around the interior of your next new car, take a second to appreciate the high-quality plastics it features – they represent one of the most innovative ways the automotive industry is embracing sustainability.