Vehicle recyclability is a major challenge for the automotive industry in the coming years. The PSA group and the PEUGEOT brand are committed to optimizing the use of resources by integrating green or recycled materials into its produced vehicles to perpetuate recycling channels and reduce their environmental footprint.
The environmental issue
By 2060, there will be ten billion people on Earth. The OECD estimates that the use of raw materials will double to cope with growth, which will put twice the pressure on the environment.
The automobile can have an impact on the environment through the use of its natural resources and through its end-of-life recycling mode (recycling of scrapped vehicles), this issue has been taken into consideration by many manufacturers.
To exercise their social responsibility, to reduce their risk of dependence and to control production costs, car manufacturers must then find solutions to:
- Use materials from a responsible supply chain (respect for human rights and the environment, ethics)
- Treat end-of-life products responsibly (especially vehicles and batteries for electric vehicles)
- Use materials compatible with the circular economy, focusing on two areas: the need to recover and recycle end-of-life vehicles and to recycle materials that are becoming scarce;
- Use fewer natural resources which are more and more expensive as they become scarce;
- Eliminate dangerous substances covered by the regulations
Integration of recycled materials in PEUGEOT vehicles
The consideration of these environmental impacts in the design of new vehicles is a major subject that prevailed in the design of recently launched vehicles. From its conception, every new vehicle must incorporate recycled materials which are evaluated according to their manufacture and their end of life.
The latest PEUGEOT vehicles on the market illustrate the results obtained on the inclusion of recycled materials or materials from natural resources:
- The joint programs between the new PEUGEOT 208 and the new PEUGEOT 2008 have led to the joint use of recycled and natural materials in these vehicles. The new PEUGEOT 208 and 2008 models have an average of 30% and 31% respectively of recycled and natural materials in all of the two vehicles. About 40 pieces incorporate recycled and natural materials. Among these elements, we can cite:
- The use of natural hemp fibers for dashboard reinforcements;
- The use of recycled polypropylene on the deflectors (air under the floor, under the tank, airbag, front / rear fenders) and in the front / rear bumpers.
- The use of recycled polyamide in the hubcaps and the intake manifold, as well as in the fan-motor unit.
- The PEUGEOT 508 has an average of 31% of recycled and natural materials in the vehicle. Around 80 polymer parts incorporate recycled materials and materials of natural origin. Among the notable applications on the PEUGEOT 508, we can cite:
- The use of natural hemp fibers in the windshield defrost ducts,
- The use of recycled polypropylene in the deflectors or the spare tire storage device.
the environmental impact of our industry remains a priority for the PEUGEOT brand and through its latest launches, we can see that this desire translates into concrete achievements since PEUGEOT vehicles today reach rates of use of natural materials and recycled records.
SOURCE: PEUGEOT
