February 15, 2025 – European Parliament Adopts Key Amendments to ELV Regulation
The European Parliament has recently approved a significant report that introduces several modifications to the European Commission’s proposed End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) regulation. This regulation aims to boost the circular economy in the automotive sector by increasing the use of recycled materials in vehicle manufacturing.
It is understood that the draft report put forward by the European Parliament proposes multiple amendments to the Commission’s initial legislative proposal, which are expected to be discussed later this month. One of the most crucial changes pertains to the target for recycled plastic content. The original proposal mandated a 25% recycled plastic ratio in new vehicles, but the Parliament deemed this target excessively high, potentially exerting undue pressure on the automotive industry. Consequently, the report lowers this target to 20%, ensuring its reasonability and feasibility.
Furthermore, according to Color Masterbatch Industry Network, the report also adjusts the closed-loop recycling requirements. The initial proposal stipulated that at least 25% of the recycled plastic in vehicles should originate from end-of-life vehicles. However, the Parliament considers this proportion too high and reduces it to 15%. This adjustment aims to alleviate the burden on manufacturers while still encouraging the use of recycled materials. Additionally, the report broadens the sources of recycled plastic, allowing manufacturers to utilize pre-consumer and post-consumer waste plastics, as well as bio-based plastics, to meet the recycled plastic quotas.
To ensure the accurate implementation and regulation of recycled content, the European Parliament also urges the European Commission to develop a standardized method for calculating and verifying recycled content within 12 months of the regulation’s entry into force. This method will consider the best available recycling technologies, including chemical recycling, and emphasize the potential role of digital product passports in improving the traceability and verification of recycled plastics in automobile manufacturing.
Moreover, the European Parliament suggests reassessing the feasibility of the new plastic recycling targets through an impact assessment. This will take into account factors such as technological advancements, the availability of recycled plastics, and the quality of recycled materials, to ensure the practicality and effectiveness of the quotas. Through these adjustments, the European Parliament aims to strike a balance between sustainability ambitions and industry capabilities, driving the automotive sector towards circular economy goals.