MaterialLoop project aims to cut down the environmental impact of vehicles by recycling

Metallurgists and chemists are working on a less fantastical but comparable problem: recycling materials to the same grade 'A' quality they began life in. For instance, recycling steel may seem simple. Still, it isn't, and according to the German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles Audi, just a tiny portion of the materials removed from used automobiles, including steel, are used in new cars. Therefore, recycled steel from discarded automobiles is more likely to be used in the building and construction industry rather than being reused for body skins, chassis, suspension, or other components.

The MaterialLoop project, in which Audi is a partner, explores this downgrading of materials when they are recycled, whether they be metals or plastics. It is known as "downcycling." The project seeks to transform recycling into a circular process that recovers what was put in while maintaining the same quality standard to allow for automobile reuse. The environmental impact of a car improves as a result of fewer raw materials being extracted. Additionally, it guarantees increased supply security, which goes beyond just energy.

Dismantling of vehicles, including 100 ex-development Audis, began in October 2022. Materials like aluminium, steel, plastic and glass were separated as the bodies were torn. Audi is already using the knowledge from the experiment, which runs until the end of April. Certain premium recycled materials are being used to create new automobiles. Six coils of sheet steel that meet the criteria for virgin steel while including 12 per cent recycled steel were made due to the project.

The practice of recycling aluminium is already well-established in the sector; for instance, Jaguar Land Rover has long used recycled aluminium in the body shells of its vehicles. Like Audi and other companies, aluminium waste offcuts from the press shops are gathered and given back to the raw material supplier. Although some quantity of non-secondary aluminium is required to meet the required standards, the quality of the recycled aluminium is still maintained.