On Tuesday, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted new proposals for European Union circularity rules that will govern the entire lifecycle of vehicles, from design to final end-of-life treatment. The draft measures garnered substantial support, with 431 MEPs voting in favour, 145 against, and 76 abstaining.
These regulations aim to advance the automotive sector’s transition to a circular economy by minimising the environmental impact associated with vehicle production and disposal, while also enhancing the sustainability of the car recycling industry in Europe.
On July 13, 2023, the European Commission proposed a regulation for vehicle design circularity and end-of-life management. In 2023, the EU produced 14.8 million vehicles, with 6.5 million reaching the end of their lives annually.
The proposed rules will apply to all vehicle types, excluding special-purpose vehicles and those specifically designed for use by armed forces, civil defence, fire and emergency medical services, as well as vehicles of historical or cultural significance. New vehicles must be designed to facilitate the easy removal of components and parts by authorised treatment facilities, thereby promoting options for replacement, reuse, recycling, remanufacturing, or refurbishing when technically feasible.
MEPs propose that the plastic content in new vehicles include a minimum of 20% recycled plastic within six years of the implementation of these rules, with an elevated target of at least 25% within ten years, contingent upon the availability of adequate recycled plastic at reasonable prices. Additionally, the MEPs have called for the Commission to establish targets for recycled steel and aluminium based on the outcomes of a feasibility study.
“Parliament supports the circular economy in the automotive sector. We are advancing resource security, protecting the environment, and ensuring sustainability. To avoid overburdening the industry, we secured realistic targets, and ensured less red tape and fair competition,” Co-rapporteurs Jens Gieseke (EPP, DE), of the Environment committee, and Paulius Saudargas (EPP, LT), of the Internal Market committee, said.
Three years after the new regulations take effect, manufacturers will assume extended producer responsibility, requiring them to cover the costs of collecting and treating vehicles that have reached the end of their lifecycle. Furthermore, MEPs are advocating for a clearer distinction between used vehicles and end-of-life vehicles, proposing an export ban on vehicles classified as end-of-life. As the Council has already established its position earlier this summer, interinstitutional negotiations are expected to begin without delay.
