Audi is embracing glass recycling in a significant move toward sustainability. Starting September 2023, the Audi Q4 e-tron will incorporate recycled glass as a standard feature, a result of the company’s ‘GlassLoop’ pilot project. This eco-friendly initiative has also earned Audi the German Award for Sustainability Projects.
Audi’s commitment involves utilizing up to 30% recycled material from irreparable car windows to create windshields for the Q4 e-tron. This integration marks the evolution of the ‘GlassLoop’ pilot project into regular production, showcasing Audi’s pioneering approach to materials.
In partnership with Reiling Glas Recycling, Saint-Gobain Glass, and Saint-Gobain Sekurit, Audi’s GlassLoop project pioneers a comprehensive glass cycle. Unlike the traditional practice of “downcycling,” where damaged windows find secondary uses, this initiative demonstrates the potential for reusing glass with comparable quality. The breakthrough process will be presented at the 2023 Greentech Festival and sustainability conference in Berlin from June 14 to 16.
The advanced technique involves breaking down car windows into small pieces through innovative recycling. After eliminating non-glass elements like glue residue, the resulting glass granulate is melted and reintroduced into automotive plate glass production. This method achieves a secondary content of up to 30 percent in the new glass. The aim is to maintain a significant share of recycled material throughout the Audi Q4 e-tron’s production lifecycle, starting from September 2023.
Philipp Eder, Project Manager for Circular Economy in the Supply Chain at Audi, emphasizes the benefits: “Processing irreparable car windows for automotive production reduces the need for primary materials like quartz sand and avoids downcycling.” This approach aligns with Audi’s Act4Impact program for a sustainable supply chain and earned the company recognition with the German Award for Sustainability Projects in the ‘Recycling Concept’ category.
Audi’s forward-looking strategy extends beyond this project. The company aspires to introduce additional material cycles, focusing on secondary materials where ecological and economic feasibility aligns. Chairman of the Board of Management at Audi AG, Markus Duesmann, asserts, “Our goal is to recover and reuse materials at high quality levels, preserving valuable primary materials and lessening environmental impacts.”
Emphasizing the circular economy’s importance, Audi prioritizes maintaining material grade and quality for prolonged usability within the automotive industry. By minimizing downcycling, the company seeks to extend the lifespan and quality of materials, embodying a sustainable ethos that transcends innovation and manufacturing.