Jaguar Land Rover trials new recycling process

JAGUAR Land Rover is trialling an innovative recycling process which converts plastic waste into a new premium grade material that could feature on future vehicles.

It’s estimated that the amount of waste plastic is predicted to exceed 12 million tonnes globally by 2050. Today, not all of this plastic can be recycled for use in automotive applications – especially in vehicle parts that are required to meet the most exacting safety and quality standards.

Working in conjunction with chemical company, BASF, JLR is part of a pilot project called Chemcycling that upcycles domestic waste plastic, otherwise destined for landfill or incinerators, into a new highquality material.

The waste plastic is transformed to pyrolysis oil using a thermochemical process. This secondary raw material is then fed into BASF’S production chain as a replacement for fossil resources; ultimately producing a new premium grade that replicates the high quality and performance of ‘virgin’ plastics. Importantly, it can be tempered and coloured, making it the ideal sustainable solution for designing the next-generation dashboards and exterior surfaces in Jaguar and Land Rover models.

This is the latest example of Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to addressing the challenge of waste plastic. The company has also collaborated with Kvadrat to offer customers alternative seat options that are both luxurious and sustainable that is made from 53 recycled plastic bottles per vehicle and available initially on the Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque.

Having already met its 2020 target for Zero Waste to Landfill for UK operations, together, these efforts are driving towards JLR’S vision for Destination Zero; an ambition to make societies safer and healthier, and the environment cleaner.