Increasingly, plastic components are being used in vehicles rather than metal ones, as plastic is lighter. The automotive industry is gradually stepping up the percentage of recycled plastic to reduce its environmental impact.

AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is a non-profit research association active in the plastics industry. It has launched the SURFTOP Project to develop the use of recycled plastic in vehicle parts. The project receives funding from the Valencian Institute of Competitiveness and Innovation (IVACE+i) and the ERDF. 

SURFTOP studies the effects of using recycled material to manufacture parts for the interior and exterior of vehicles. It also aims to establish and develop technologies that make it possible to comply with vehicle interior air quality requirements while maintaining the surface properties established by manufacturers. 
 

The project is in line with circular principles because it makes new parts from materials recovered from automotive industry waste. It's a research project, and these new parts are analysed. Researchers examine the volatile and semi-volatile compounds and surface properties to check that the parts meet automotive industry requirements. Surface properties affect the plastic's appearance, bonding capacity and resistance: all key issues for vehicle parts. Emissions from volatile organic compounds and odours are also important for plastic parts used inside the vehicle.

Spanish company Prisma – Soporte Industrial, active in injection moulding and painting of automotive parts,  will help validate the process and functionality of the recycled materials. GBP METAL GROUP will provide materials recycled from car parts.