In a step towards a more sustainable and circular automotive industry, Stellantis, through its dedicated circular economy business unit SUSTAINera, has confirmed its ambitious recycling strategy and unveiled remarkable progress in various initiatives aimed at revamping consumption models and reducing the impact on natural resources.
At the International Automotive Recycling Congress (IARC) 2024 in Antwerp, Belgium, Alison Jones, Senior Vice President of Stellantis’ Global Circular Economy, delivered a keynote presentation highlighting the company’s commitment to increasing recycling revenues tenfold and achieving more than €2 billion in total circular economy revenues by 2030, fully aligning with Stellantis’ Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.
Among the positive results achieved by the Circular Economy unit are:
- Valorauto: An end-of-life vehicle solution:
Since January 2024, Stellantis has been offering customers and dealers in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg an end-of-life vehicle management service through the Valorauto platform. Regardless of the brand or engine type (combustion, hybrid, or electric), this comprehensive service provides free collection and a financial return opportunity for users. Valorauto is a joint venture between Stellantis and Galloo, a major player in automotive recycling, aimed at extending product lifespan, recycling materials, and reducing waste and environmental impact.
- Alloy Wheels Recycling in North America:
In line with the material close-loop mindset, Stellantis has established a recycling channel for alloy wheels in the North American market with its partner Real Alloy. End-of-life wheels are collected from dealers, melted, and reintegrated as secondary raw aluminium to manufacture new engine or transmission components at Stellantis’ casting plant in Kokomo, avoiding material loss and promoting a circular production process.
- SUSTAINera Recycled Products:
At the IARC, SUSTAINera launched its first range of Recycled products, complementing the 4R offer (Remanufactured, Repaired, Reused, Recycled parts) in the Parts & Services range. These include a windscreen washer fluid made from 100% regenerated alcohol from recycled industrial solvents and a cooling fluid made with 100% recycled mono ethylene glycol base, both compliant with Stellantis’ original specifications and available in multiple formats with eco-friendly packaging.
- Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling:
Alison Jones highlighted Stellantis’ Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Orano for a Joint Venture to manage end-of-life electric vehicle batteries and scrap from gigafactories in Europe and North America. This partnership aims to secure access to critical materials like cobalt, nickel, and lithium for electrification and energy transition while meeting the European Union’s 2031 battery directive on using recycled materials in new batteries, supporting a global circular economy approach.
Through these initiatives, Stellantis is demonstrating its commitment to sustainable practices, resource conservation, and a responsible approach to vehicle lifecycle management. By embracing circular economy principles and investing in recycling technologies, the company is paving the way for a more environmentally conscious and resource-efficient automotive industry.