Project explores circular automotive production

A consortium of 19 leading companies and research institutes, including the BMW Group, Evonik, Thyssenkrupp, the Fraunhofer Institute and the Technical University of Munich, has the goal of developing new processes for using sustainable materials for circular automotive production. Evonik, a specialty chemical company based in Essen, Germany, says it is contributing its expertise in plastics and additives for recycling to the project, which launched last year and is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection for three years.

The core of the "Future Sustainable Car Materials (FSCM)" initiative launched by BMW is to develop innovative process routes and material concepts for large parts of the value chain, thereby enabling a circular economy in vehicle production.

"We are pleased to contribute our specialty chemicals expertise to this pioneering consortium of industry leaders and internationally renowned research institutions to develop circular plastics solutions for the automobiles of tomorrow," says Lauren Kjeldsen, member of the executive board of Evonik Operations GmbH and head of the Smart Materials Division.

"Our mechanical recycling experts work closely with recyclers to prepare methods for cleaning up plastic parts, such as separating paint at the end of useful life,” says Patrick Glöckner, head of the Global Circular Plastics Program at Evonik. “We also work with compounders to develop solutions for using the highest possible proportion of recycled plastics in new automotive parts."

This form of integrated collaboration enables the consortium to quickly identify challenges and jointly develop solutions, Evonik says. In light of the high complexity of automotive manufacturing, the participants in the FSCM project are optimistic that the knowledge gained also can be applied to other industrial products in the future, such as commercial vehicles, electrical and household appliances, thereby becoming an impetus for future circular economy systems in the German economy.