Japanese majors join hands to expand automotive recycled content

Tokyo – A grouping of 16 Japanese organisations (see table above) have come together to expand automotive recycling processes as part of a circular economy initiative.

The industry-government-academia collaboration began in early March and is scheduled to conclude in January 2025, announced Toray Industries, a participating member.

The project, it said, responds to the automotive industry’s ongoing transition to a circular economy by addressing challenges currently associated with automotive recycling.

Participants include ELV (end-of-life vehicle) dismantling and shredding operators, dismantling system providers, materials manufacturers, automotive parts makers and research institutions.

According to Toray, current recycling processes often involve shredding ELVs and separating the remaining materials for use in new products.

The new collaboration aims to develop a new ELV processing method based on “automated sophisticated dismantling” and conduct a technology demonstration of an integrated process.

The project also aims to develop a process that can tackle current challenges around producing “high-purity materials” from recyclate.

“The group will identify the challenges involved in implementing [an] integrated ecosystem that combines manufacturing and recycling industries,” said Toray.

In addition to dismantling and reprocessing of materials, the project will also involve the prototyping and evaluation of parts made from the recycled materials.

Another goal is to verify the sustainability of entire recycling processes in terms of emissions-reduction compared to current approaches.