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Mazda first to recycle vehicle bumpers

Muscat, September 6, 2011

Japan-based Mazda Motor has become the world’s first automaker to recycle scrapped bumpers from end-of-life vehicles (ELV’s) into raw material for new vehicle bumpers.

The new technology is initially being used to make rear bumpers for the Mazda Biante minivan.

Conventionally, bumpers from ELV’s are processed into automobile shredder residue (ASR) and incinerated to recover heat energy (thermal recycling).

By enabling the ELV bumpers to be recycled into material for new vehicle bumpers, the new technology improves the material recycling ratio (MRR) of Mazda vehicles and contributes to more effective use of resources.

Bumpers comprise a large proportion of the plastic used in most vehicles and Mazda is proactively developing bumper recycling technologies as an effective way to increase vehicle MRR. Mazda became an industry leader in bumper recycling when it began processing damaged bumpers collected from in-use vehicles through its dealer network in Japan.

Mazda then aimed to further develop this damaged bumper recycling technology and adapt it for recycling ELV bumpers.

“Initially, Mazda is collecting bumpers from end-of-life Mazda vehicles in the Hiroshima area, and the recycled plastic will comprise approximately 10 per cent of each new bumper produced. Currently, approximately 20 per cent by weight of ELV’s (parts made of plastics, rubber and other materials) is incinerated as ASR,” explained Annurag Chawla, head of Marketing and Communications of Muscat-based Towell Auto Centre, sole dealer for Mazda in Oman.

“Bumpers comprise a large proportion of the plastic so collecting and recycling ELV bumpers is expected to make a significant contribution to reducing ASR and optimising efficient use of resources,” he added.

Processing ELV bumpers into new material has previously been technically and economically difficult. To overcome this, in the 1990’s Mazda began designing bumpers to be easily recyclable, and now the number of ELV bumpers that can be efficiently dismantled is increasing. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Oman | Vehicles | Mazda | Recycle | Bumpers |

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