Audi is recycling old automotive plastic and turning it into new parts, specifically seatbelt buckle covers. Manufacturers are fully aware of the importance of going green, with most automakers already fully committed to an EV future. As many know, going electric isn't necessarily as environmentally friendly as one might think, and many are claiming that EVs are there to save the automotive industry and not the planet, so many are turning to other methods to get cars even cleaner. We've seen some incredible eco-friendly projects in the past, including a crazy French concept car made from milk bottles, and even major players such as BMW are going all in on recycled materials for their interiors. Any effort to reduce CO2 emissions counts, contributing to a cleaner overall production process.
The new parts have been specifically designed for the new 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron, which made its official debut earlier this month. The new casings are made from mixed automobile plastic waste using a chemical recycling process, and although this might sound like an insignificant part, it's actually a pretty big deal; this is the first time that Audi has manufactured a critical safety component in this way, and opens the door for many more parts to be made from recycled plastic. Audi has partnered with LyondellBasell on this project, and it looks like the start of something revolutionary for the German automaker, since the new products made from recycled material are just as good as those made from scratch.
The new recycling process creates a special type of oil called pyrolysis oil which is mixed with recycled plastic granulate. This process is supervised by an independent external certification agency which ensures that Audi has replaced the fossil resources required to produce the covers normally with pyrolysis oil and plastic granules. By converting materials usually only suitable for energy recovery into materials that can be turned into parts, this new process allows Audi to use raw fossil materials for an extended period and reduce purchasing costs of additional primary materials, bringing the overall production cost of the Q8 e-tron down. That's a win for the environment, Audi, and the consumer. EVs might not be the cleanest automotive products out there, but with technologies like being introduced into mainstream production processes, we might reach a point where these cars become genuinely carbon-neutral.
