The United States Council for Automotive Research's Vehicle Recycling Partnership has signed a contract with ECO2 Plastics Inc. to evaluate its PET plastics recycling technology. ISCAR is composed of researchers from DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor and General Motors.
The technology used by ECO2 removes substances from plastics recovered from shredder residue.
While U.S. automakers have worked to eliminate substances of concern from general vehicle content, some SOCs can still be found in shredder residue, which often come from non-automobile sources such as appliances, demolition materials and other wase sources.
ECO2 Plastics is one of several private industry innovators working with the VRP and its partners to develop shredder residue recycling solutions. The shredder residue plastics are cleaned in an environmentally friendly process, which uses no water and deploys a biodegradable solvent and liquid carbon dioxide to remove the offending substances, which allows the remaining plastics to be more easily used.
ECO2 Plastics, formerly ITEC Environmental Group, is engaged in PET plastic recycling. The company's patented and patent-pending process was developed through a research partnership with Honeywell FM&T and the U.S. Department of Energy. ECO2 Plastics is the exclusive worldwide licensee of the technology.