Innovations in Automotive Recycling
Porsche has developed new recycling methods for vehicles that have reached the end of their life cycle. The company has joined forces with chemical giant BASF and a technology company specializing in sustainable energy. A pilot project successfully converted shredded plastic waste into foam for the production of steering wheels.
Historical Context and New Goals
A few years ago, Porsche stated that 70 percent of the 911 cars manufactured since the 1960s are still in operation. Now, the company aims to ensure that even the vehicles ending their journey can continue to contribute to exciting driving on winding roads.
Modern Recycling Challenges
Recycling is not a new phenomenon for the automotive industry. Decommissioned vehicles contain valuable metals that can be reused. However, the main challenge remains the disposal of other materials. Besides metals, cars contain a large amount of plastic, foam, and paint, which are significantly more difficult to recycle.
The Problem of Automotive Waste
Currently, when vehicle components go through an industrial shredder, so-called automotive shredder residue is produced. This material is considered garbage and undergoes thermal recycling, i.e., incineration. Although this process generates energy, it is not environmentally clean.
Latest Recycling Technologies
Porsche aims to increase the proportion of recycled materials in its vehicles, so in collaboration with BASF and BEST Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies, it has developed new ways to process automotive shredder residue and integrate it into new vehicles. By using biological raw materials such as wood chips, the new chemical recycling process applies gasification technology to convert plastic waste into syngas at high temperatures. BASF, an expert in chemistry, uses this gas to create new plastic.
Practical Application
As part of a pilot study, Porsche used polyurethane from BASF to produce foam for a batch of three-spoke sports steering wheels. The foam is not entirely made from recycled materials, as it still contains traditional fossil fuel-based plastics, but it is a step in the right direction.
Implementation Prospects
Porsche has not yet announced when exactly these technologies will be applied in series production. However, if one ever manages to save enough money to buy a new 911 Carrera, it would be interesting to feel that it contains elements of recycled materials, for example, from a sporty GT3 RS.
This initiative demonstrates how traditional automakers are adapting to the demands of the modern world, where environmental responsibility is becoming increasingly important. The use of chemical recycling opens up new possibilities for reducing waste and creating a closed-loop production cycle. Although the technology is not yet perfect, its development could significantly impact the future of the automotive industry, combining high-quality standards with a sustainable approach to manufacturing.