Covestro, a global leader in high-performance polymer materials, has announced an expanded collaboration with Ausell, a Chinese plastics recycling company, to advance the recycling of end-of-life automotive plastics. Building on their previous work recycling polycarbonate water barrels, this partnership aims to enhance circularity in the automotive industry by converting automotive waste into valuable, high-quality materials for new vehicle components.
Since 2020, Covestro and Ausell have been recycling 1 million 19-liter polycarbonate water barrels each year, producing high-performance post-consumer recycled (PCR) polycarbonates for use in electronics, home appliances, and automotive applications. With this expanded collaboration, Ausell will supply recycled polycarbonates from discarded automotive headlamps, which Covestro will transform into high-grade PCR materials for automotive engineering applications. This initiative marks a further step in closing the plastics recycling loop within the automotive sector, reducing waste and carbon emissions, and enhancing resource efficiency.
Lily Wang, Global Head of the Engineering Plastics Business Entity at Covestro, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Ausell as we work with our value chain partners to drive the circular transformation of the automotive industry. Together, we are committed to pioneering sustainable solutions that pave the way toward a circular and climate-neutral future.”
Xia Wenjun, CEO of Ausell, echoed this vision, stating: “Our enhanced collaboration with Covestro marks a significant milestone toward a circular economy. By converting end-of-life automotive parts into valuable resources, we not only reduce waste but also support the development of sustainable materials for the next generation of vehicles.”
As the automotive industry faces mounting sustainability regulations and strives to close the materials loop, Covestro and Ausell’s collaboration places them at the forefront of developing high-performance, compliant materials that address plastic waste management and resource efficiency. The use of recycled polycarbonates in automotive components demonstrates the potential of high-value recycling solutions to drive sustainable innovation in the industry.
