For the first time, UK-based recycler Axion Polymers has supplied its 100% recycled polymer from end-of-life vehicles to the Volvo Car Group, who has set out ambitious plans to use at least 25% recycled plastics in every newly launched car by 2025.
The Manchester-based recycler said its Axpoly PP polymer was blended 50/50 with a polypropylene recycled from packaging waste to achieve a specification required by vehicle designers for reuse in new vehicle components.
Axion produces Axpoly recycled polymers from automotive shredder residue and electrical end-of-life feedstocks at its two plants in Trafford Park and Salford in Manchester, the UK.
According to the recycler, an initial sample of the plastic blend was used to mould both internal and external body parts of a Volvo prototype car that was unveiled at the Ocean Summit conference, held in June at Gothenburg, Sweden.
The car – a specially-built version of its XC60 T8 plug-in hybrid SUV model – has over 170 plastic parts, roughly 60kg, made out of recycled plastics instead of virgin polymers.
Axion claims that its high-quality recycled polymer grades can replace virgin plastics in new cars to help the automotive industry transition from a ‘linear' to a circular economy.
“It was great to take part in the Ocean Summit debate and to see large multi-national organisations making strong commitments to tackle this worldwide and hugely-significant issue,” said Keith Freegard, associate consultant at Axion Polymers, who attended the Ocean Summit conference.
“Seeing the ‘first adopters' take the lead in such an important market as motor vehicles really gives me hope that the problem of ocean plastic pollution can be solved by taking such positive action for change,” Freegard added.