The EU today published the regulation setting recycling requirements for vehicles and end-of-life vehicle management, which includes the obligation for at least 15pc of recycled plastic in new vehicles from 1 September 2032.
This increases from 1 September 2036 to 25pc of plastic recycled by weight from post-consumer waste.
The regulation excludes from the weight calculation elastomers from tyres and thermosets, apart from cushioning polyurethane foams.
A further provision requires at least 20pc of the target to come from plastics recycled from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) or from parts removed from used vehicles.
The European Parliament approved the rules in June. German centre-right EPP lawmaker Jens Gieseke, who helped draft the measure, said it opens the way for more recycled steel, aluminium and other critical raw materials to be used in new vehicles.
By 30 September 2028, the European Commission is obliged to adopt a delegated act establishing a minimum share of steel recycled, and where relevant ferrous scrap, from post-consumer steel waste. The steel target should apply no later than 14 August 2033. Similarly, the commission has to set a minimum target share of recycled aluminium and alloys, also applicable by that date.
More broadly, the regulation sets a 1 September 2032 target for EU type-approved vehicles to be constructed so they are "reusable or recyclable" to a minimum of 85pc by mass. The commission has to assess by 31 December 2033 the feasibility of targets to increase the use of biobased feedstock in vehicles' plastics.
The law enters into force in 20 days, with provisions generally applying from 1 September 2028.
