Spanish chemicals supplier Repsol SA has signed a memorandum of understanding with two waste recovery players to investigate the use of polymers from end-of-life vehicles.
The company announced 26 April that as part of its circular economy Reciclex project it will be collaborating with Spanish plastic recycler ACTECO and the end-of-life vehicle treatment facility Autodesguaces El Choque.
The Reciclex project focuses on the commercialisation of polyolefins that incorporate a percentage of recycled materials.
With the agreement, Repsol will have a supply of “homogeneous materials” which it will require to further its Reciclex project.
“With this project, all partners aim to create a circular economy model, to recover the polymers from cars that have reached the end of their useful life,” said the Repsol statement.
The materials will be incorporated as raw materials in Repsol's polymers.
The polymers will then be marketed for new applications, including Repsol's polymer range for the automotive industry.
“This initiative aims for a closed circle economy for the plastic waste, transforming it into resources that will return as raw material to the production cycle,” said the Madrid-based chemicals manufacturer.