Three French companies, Rhodia Engineering Plastics, a nylon producer, Peugeot and car component supplier Valeo, have conducted a life-cycle assessment of recycled polyamide in automotive applications. What they found was that it carries a significant environmental benefit.

The part, a fan and shroud assembly, which is manufactured by Valeo based on recycled Technyl polyamide from Rhodia is a vital engine cooling component on the new Peugeot 208 model. The study took account of the entire value chain which emphasised seven key factors ranging from the depletion of non-renewable resources to acidification and eutrophication.

Rhodia says that the results of the study confirm that the use of recycled polyamide reduces the overall environmental impact of the component. According to the company, “using recycled polyamide averts the generation of greenhouse gases equivalent to that produced by 400 000 cars or photochemical oxidation (responsible for ozone peaks) comparable to that made by 2 200 000 vehicles all travelling around Paris’s ring-road.”

Peugeot says that “given that on average, 20% of a vehicle comprises 150 to 250kg of plastic parts these significant results validate the importance of the right choice of technically high-performing recycled materials for better auto eco-design.

Source: recyclinginternational.com