Recovery concept
Take-back network
Vauxhall's Recycling-oriented design
Makes recycling it so much easier


Objective: To increase the efficiency of the recycling process by designing products from the start to be recyclable.

Vauxhall's design for recycling strategy is an element of our product responsibility. It has the twin aims of decreasing the waste produced during vehicle production and then further reducing waste at the end of a vehicle's life. This drives preservation of precious material and energy resources.

Our strategy rests on two principles:
  • Recycling-oriented Design / Design for pre-treatment
  • Development and implementation of material 'cycles' for vehicle production:
 
Integrated product responsibility
Development
  • Recycling-oriented design
  • Life cycle assessments
  • Avoidance of
    critical materials


 Production
  • Use of recyclated
    materials
    (recyclates)
Recovery
  • Vehicle
    Recovery
  • De-pollution
    and pre-treatment
  • EU directive
 Usage
  • Dealership disposal
    (waste management)
  • Spare parts
 
Teams within GM must follow 'Recyclability/Recoverability' guidelines. The aim is to support both GM engineers and suppliers in the development of vehicles and components where recyclability is built in. The process also helps engineers to analyse parts, components and vehicles with regard to their recyclability and recoverability - the ease with which parts can be recycled at the end of life.
 
Elements of design for recycling
Recycling-oriented
material selection		 Recycling-
oriented design		  
Design for
depollution		   Design for
Pre-treatment
 

Vauxhall has a long tradition of using recycled materials, also known as recyclates. One of Vauxhall’s recycling targets is to increase the quantity of recycled materials, also known as recyclates, in the production of its cars. More than 130 plastic recyclate types have been specified and approved for use in production.

Recyclates are always preferred over virgin material, as long as their usage is technically feasible and economically viable. Beyond that, recyclate types are released exclusively for a number of parts (e.g. fender liners, splash protection, engine beauty cover). Indeed, such is the comparable quality of recycled materials versus new materials that they are no longer restricted to hidden parts but are used for many visible parts as well.

Our recycling team takes every effort to maintain high standards of performance and mechanical and thermal durability.

Quality is never compromised.
 
Insignia: Use of recycled materials
Parts released in recycled
plastic materials

 


Recovery concept
Take-back network

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