What to expect in the car recycling industry in 2024

As the demand for green parts increases and awareness of environmental action is on the rise, companies in the automotive and vehicle recycling industry are doing their utmost to keep up.

This year, the automotive industry saw the number of electric vehicles purchased continue to rise, along with other trends including rising demand for green parts, increased use of recycled materials, and general awareness of sustainability.

But what can we expect to see within the next few years? Here are some key things to note.

 

Sustainability and environmental awareness

With growing global concern over climate change, automakers are increasingly urged to adopt eco-friendly practices throughout the entire vehicle life cycle. From the production phase, where manufacturers are exploring sustainable materials and energy-efficient processes, to the vehicles end-of-life stage, where recycling and responsible disposal are prioritised, the industry is undergoing a huge shift.

For example, the BMW Group is making changes to its tyres in 2024. They will be using cast aluminium wheels produced with 100-percent green power for their BMW and MINI brands from 2024 onwards. This change will save up to an incredible 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Joachim Post, says “Green power is one of the biggest levers for reducing CO2 emissions in our supply chain. We have already signed more than 400 contracts with our suppliers, including suppliers of wheels and aluminium, requiring them to use green power.” 

Modern BMW alloy wheel

 

Overton Automotive’s sustainability vision

As one of the leading vehicle recyclers in the UK, Overton Automotive are making big changes to reach the goal of reducing 42% of emissions by 2030.

This all aligns with the e2e‘s Sustain 360 programme in aiming towards the vision of Net Zero by 2050 for its network members.

By implementing short and long-term goals, we’re pleased to be well under way with the reduction of our Scope 1 and 2 emissions. 

 

Overton’s environmentally-friendly actions for the next 2 years:

  • More efficient use of power sources and powered equipment. For example, LED Lights and timer switches
  • Improving our building EPC grading
  • Upgrading our collection vehicles
  • Feasibility studies on all our plant and equipment with the view to planning to being at least 80% electric by 2030
  • Improving our recycling rates and monitoring % of particular products we recycle from ELV’S


Overton’s environmentally-friendly actions for the next 6 years:

  • Alternative power sources like solar or wind to power all or part of our buildings
  • Upgrading of plant and equipment to be powered by electricity rather than diesel or gas.


“ Sustainability has been the “Buzz” word this year in our industry. Despite recycling tons of material each year for many years and contributing already to a “greener” planet, we are also now fully engaged in a Carbon Emission reduction programme and collectively we are looking forward to contributing to a cleaner environment. We have already made great steps in 2023 by achieving ISO14001 and our first Science Based Targets give us a firm foundation to improve further in 2024,
says Mark Boden (Overton Automotive’s Business & Project Manager).

Birds eye view of Overton Automotive's Aberdeen site


Green parts demand

As environmental awareness grows, so does the demand for recycled and remanufactured vehicle parts.

Green parts contribute significantly to reducing the environmental impact of the automotive sector. As well as their eco-friendly appeal, these parts often come at a more affordable price point compared to brand-new components, aligning with a broader consumer trend toward budget-conscious and sustainable choices. 

Vehicle green parts undergo rigorous testing, cleaning and refurbishment at Overton Automotive to ensure they meet the highest quality standards. So our customers can always expect the very best.

However, it isn’t only consumers who are reaping the benefits of green parts. The automotive industry is now seeing an increase in repair shops utilising green parts. This comes with the increasing recognition of the quality and cost-effectiveness of green parts. According to Activate Accident Repair, green parts are mainly used for cosmetic repairs, such as replacing doors, wing mirrors, or bumpers.

With the growing use of green parts now in repair centres, we’re certain the demand for them won’t be slowing down any time soon.

 

Electric vehicle recycling

With the news that we will no longer be able to purchase petrol or diesel cars from 2030, there has been a huge surge in the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs).

EVs are an excellent environmentally friendly alternative. Although, it can’t be ignored that the manufacturing and disposal of their batteries can have a significant impact on our environment. 

Power supply connected to electric vehicle charge battery. EV charging station for electric car or Plug-in hybrid car. Automotive innovation and technology concepts.

The average EV battery has a lifespan of an average of 100,000 miles (about 8 years). So it’s inevitable that once these miles are up, each EV owner will have to replace their battery.

It’s imperative that EV batteries do not end up in landfill, as they can release extremely harmful toxins to the environment. Instead, it’s always best to dispose of batteries carefully or, even better, have them completely recycled.

Auto recyclers will need to dispose of these batteries safely. Recyclers have two main methods of extracting valuable metals from the battery:

Pyrometallurgy – This is the more common method which involves mechanically shredding the cell and then burning it, leaving recyclers with different types of plastic, metals, and glues. At that point, they can use several methods to extract the metals, including further burning.

Hydrometallurgy – Instead of burning the battery parts, this method involves dipping the battery materials into acid, which produces a pool of liquid metal.

The auto recycling industry will certainly see an increase in EV battery recycling in 2024 and the years to come.

 

As we step into 2024, Overton Automotive remains committed to leading the charge in eco-friendly auto recycling. With sustainability at the forefront of everyone’s minds, there are certainly going to be some big changes in the automotive industry as a whole, as well as the rising demand for green parts and increased number of electric vehicles needing to be recycled.

If you’re looking to recycle your vehicle, grab your free quote from us today.

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