American Recycler AUG 2024 / Read the original article
Borealis introduced Borcycle™ GD3600SY, a glass-fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) compound with 65 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) polymer content. It will first be used in automotive interiors in a landmark project delivered in partnership with Plastivaloire, a thermoplastic injection specialist and Tier 1 supplier to the automotive sector, and Stellantis, an OEM and the owner of 14 automotive brands.
Borcycle GD3600SY is part of the Borcycle™ M portfolio of mechanically recycled polyolefins for demanding applications. It contains 30 percent glass fibers, meaning that almost the entire polymer fraction of the product is made from post-consumer recycled PP. It will initially be used in center console carriers for the new Peugeot 3008, marking the first instance of a compound with 65 percent PCR PP being used in series production for large automotive interior applications.
This development proactively addresses the expected requirements of the forthcoming European End-of-Life Vehicles regulation. This stipulates that 25 percent of the plastic used in new vehicles must come from recycled sources, with a clear focus on mechanical and post-consumer recycling. Given that polypropylene accounts for about one-third of the plastic in cars, compounds like Borcycle GD3600SY will play a critical role in achieving these circularity goals.
Historically, mechanically recycled plastics from post-consumer waste streams have been of low and inconsistent quality, making them unsuitable for demanding automotive applications. However, advanced recycling technologies like Borcycle M have overcome these limitations: By combining sorting, cleaning, and extrusion steps, it converts household waste streams into high-quality PCR polymers that meet the demanding standards of the automotive industry while also advancing circularity.
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