- Renault was presented with the Trophée de l’Economie circulaire by the President of the Institut de l’économie circulaire on July 3.
- This award recognizes Renault’s active, pioneering role in promoting the circular economy. It was accepted by the Director of the Choisy-le-Roi plant, which has more than 60 years’ experience in renovating mechanical parts.
- Ellen MacArthur, a standard-bearer for the circular economy, praised the award given to Renault, which highlights the Choisy-le-Roi plant’s contribution through its industrial activities.
The Institute of the Circular Economy* has recognized Renault’s vital, pioneering role in promoting the circular economy by presenting it with the Trophée 2014 in the “corporate category” in the first year for the awards.
Among the first to grasp that the solutions most respectful of the environment are often ones that also boost competitiveness, Renault was the first carmaker to go into the business of recycling with the creation of Renault Environnement in 2008. This wholly owned subsidiary of the Renault group is making important progress today with a multifaceted circular economy program that combines short loops for materials, experimentation with reused parts in France, and development of remanufacturing at the Choisy-le-Roi plant.
This compelling project is supported by Renault’s long experience in recycling, which goes back to the opening in 1949 of the Choisy-le-Roi plant, which specializes in renovating the mechanical components of the Group’s vehicles. It was thus only natural that the circular economy award was presented to its director, who expressed his satisfaction: “The Choisy-le-Roi plant is very happy to accept this award on Renault’s behalf as a standard-bearer of the Group’s commitment to the circular economy.” An integral part of the Renault industrial system, the plant produces standard exchange parts, most of which go to Renault’s after-sales network. With these renovated replacement parts, Renault’s customers benefit from lower prices and shorter repair times.
Also noteworthy, the award acknowledges all the logistics at the Choisy-le-Roi plant: i.e., collecting and dismantling the old parts and determining whether they are compliant and can be used again or must be sent to foundries to recover and recycle the materials. There are multiple benefits: the consumption of water is reduced by 88% and chemical products by 92%, while 43% of the discarded parts’ mass can be reused.
Thanks to the joint eco-design work in the partnership between Renault and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the reutilization rate for mechanical components went up by 10% in one year between 2012 and 2013. Ellen MacArthur praised the award:
“All our congratulations go out to the Choisy-le-Roi plant, whose contribution to the circular economy is recognized today by this award. However, we also want to salute the many other initiatives that Renault is taking to speed up this transition. At Choisy, the dialogue between the designers and those involved in the reconditioning has resulted in major progress in terms of efficiency, and it is an example worth following when the aim is to improve the flows of materials. There is a long road ahead, but the work already accomplished is a decisive step forward.”
