JLR works aggressively towards attaining circular economy

Companies across all industrial sectors are moving towards the idea of a circular economy from the traditional linear model that promotes make, use and dispose. Policy makers around the world are stepping up with support in the form of guidance and legislation.

The European Commission (EC) is encouraging the recycling or reuse of “most if not all products and materials” through repairing, refurbishing and recycling via legislation. The EC estimates that if 95% of mobile phones were collected for re-use, savings on material costs of more than €1bn per year could be generated. If mobile phone recycling can save such huge cost, auto industry can boost much more through recycling. 

A number of auto OEMs, especially Jaguar Land Rover, have been working aggressively towards reuse and remanufacturing.

“The circular economy covers a complex and wide range of initiatives ensuring we work to make the best use of the valuable resources that go into our vehicles. This includes technological innovation – such as recycling, remanufacturing, autonomous vehicles and ownership models that consider the future mobility needs of our customers,” suggested Adrian Tautscher, Sustainable Aluminium Strategies, Jaguar Land Rover.

JLR’s REALCAR (REcycled ALuminium CAR) and the REALCAR2 projects have created benchmarks in  the field of circular economy and resource efficiency. The OEM collaborated with Novelis and Innovate UK on this closed loop value chain project, undertaking new production process to recover new materials and introduce closed-loop aluminium into JLR cars. They implemented an innovative closed-loop aluminium recycling process and developed a recycled aluminium-based alloy for use in vehicles. JLR claimed that the closed-loop enabled it to reclaim more than 50,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap back into the production process during 2015 and 2016. This prevented emissions of more than 500,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

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“REALCAR has delivered a technical and supply chain solution that allows aluminium scrap generated in manufacturing processes to be recycled in a much more efficient way,” explained Tautscher. “REALCAR applies ‘circular economy’ principles by ensuring that high quality automotive grade material is reclaimed and put back into the same high quality product.”