Car Products Made From Waste or Recycled Products
Today's vehicles are around 95 percent recyclable, which means that the car you are driving today will eventually be a part of many other products in the future. Unfortunately, the percentage of recycled products used in cars is not as high. Ford uses up to 25 percent recycled materials in its vehicles, while Volkswagen uses up to 40 percent. Those totals are expected to grow as automakers and suppliers explore new ways to incorporate recycled products into auto manufacturing. Many parts and products for today's cars use recycled materials or are reused.
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History
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The move toward utilizing more recycled and reused materials for autos stems from a few different causes. Most auto manufacturers are attempting to create better public perception while saving money and are trying to meet government regulations. The trend since the early 2000s has been toward greener products and sustainability. Using recycled materials in car manufacturing and repair fits in with this trend. Whether this trend remains popular remains to be seen, but it has enough legs to be a large focus of many companies' ad campaigns.
Incentives
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Saving money is another incentive for automakers to use and produce recycled and remanufactured parts. Making new parts is expensive and requires a lot of resources. Many automakers have found that using recycled materials can save money because it is easier to retool, recondition or use recycled materials to make new parts than it is to gather fresh material and produce a virgin part. Ford alone saved $4 million to $5 million in 2008 through its use of recycled materials, according to its 2008-2009 Sustainability Report.
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Significance
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For those automakers that are making a committed effort to offering recycled or remanufactured parts, there are many to choose from since the average car requires thousands of parts. In its 2009 North American Environmental Report, Honda stated that it had nearly 2,000 remanufactured parts available for use on its cars and were committed to launching 100 more in 2010. The company stated that, in its view, "Remanufactured parts use less energy in the production phase than new parts." Less energy equals lower cost and more environmental friendliness and sustainability.
Size
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The majority of the recycled materials used in cars, according to weight, are metals and plastics. Steel for car bodies, aluminum for engine blocks and wheels, plastics for parts, interior panels and bumpers are all commonly used recycled or reused materials in cars. Ford, for example, developed a comprehensive resin strategy in 2008 that requires the use of recycled plastics from tires, detergent bottles and car battery casings for all fender liners and splash shields and underbody and aerodynamics shields, among other parts, made in North America. This is part of its long-term "Voluntary Recycled Content Usage Policy." Tires are routinely reconditioned or recycled.
Types
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One of the most frequently recycled car parts that plays a part in the future of new car technology is the battery. Hybrid vehicles like the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius use this technology to increase fuel efficiency. General Motors will be launching the Chevy Volt all-electric vehicle in late 2010, which stores an electrical charge to a battery that powers the car. Car batteries have been recycled for years; Honda collected and recycled over 1 million of them in 2009 alone. States like Pennsylvania require batteries to be recycled and have made it illegal to dispose of them in the trash. Honda uses recyclable or reusable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries in their hybrids, so in future years your hybrid will be powered with a recycled battery as well. Used oil is another frequently recycled item.
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References
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: What Can Be Recycled?
- Ford Motor Company: Sustainable Materials Report 2008-2009
- General Motors: General Motors Receives Award For Recycled Plastics Use, Environmental Design Initiatives In TrailBlazer
- Honda Motor Company: 2009 North American Environmental Report
- Volkswagen AG: Recycling
Resources
- Photo Credit Shiny car with silver paint. Water drops on the hood. Car lamp. image by Christopher Meder from Fotolia.com
