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The automotive industry is among those that use the largest quantities of primary aluminium, steel, and plastic for the manufacture of new vehicles placed on the Union market.
Therefore, in its 2023 proposal, the European Commission recommended increasing the use of recycled plastic in vehicles—considering the low recycling rate of plastic, particularly that coming from end-of-life vehicles, and the overall negative impact of other plastic waste treatment methods. To this end, it would be appropriate to set a mandatory target for post-consumer recycled plastic content in new vehicles.
The Regulation proposal approved by the European Parliament on 18 June 2026 (and now awaiting approval by the Council of the European Union) lays down circularity requirements for the design and manufacture of vehicles regarding reusability, recyclability, recoverability and the use of recycled content.
Each vehicle must be designed and manufactured so that at least 85% of its mass is reusable or recyclable.
Pursuant to Article 6, within six years from the entry into force of the Regulation, the plastic contained in each newly type-approved vehicle must contain no less than 15% recycled plastic content recovered from post-consumer plastic waste. Within ten years from the entry into force of the Regulation, this percentage will increase to 25%.
At least 20% of this target must be achieved through the incorporation into the vehicle type concerned of recycled plastics originating from end-of-life vehicles or from parts and components removed from vehicles during their use phase.
The weight of plastic contained in each relevant new vehicle type and the weight of recycled plastic exclude elastomers derived from tyres and thermosetting plastics other than polyurethane foams used for cushioning purposes.
The recycled content must be recovered from post-consumer waste that has been recycled in:
For recycled plastics obtained through recycling methods other than mechanical recycling, a mass balance accounting methodology shall apply, consistent with the mass balance accounting methodologies applicable to plastic recycling under the definition of recycling provided by Directive 2008/98/EC.
The verification methodology requires manufacturers to ensure that any facility located in a third country producing the recycled-content material they use complies with Annex XIII and that each such facility is audited at least every five years by an independent third-party body in accordance with Annex XIV.
These verifications shall confirm compliance with the conditions set out in paragraphs 1 to 4 of the Article.
Within one year from the entry into force of the Regulation, the Commission shall assess the feasibility of establishing a minimum recycled content requirement for steel (as well as aluminium and its alloys) recovered from post-consumer waste and incorporated into vehicle types.
Within two years from the entry into force of the Regulation, the Commission shall adopt a delegated act supplementing the Regulation by establishing a minimum share of recycled steel derived from post-consumer steel waste and, where appropriate, ferrous scrap, to be incorporated into vehicle types subject to type approval.
Within 35 months from the entry into force of the Regulation, the Commission shall assess the feasibility of establishing mandatory minimum shares of:
A declaration concerning the recycled content of such materials contained in the vehicle type must be provided. For each material share and for plastic components weighing more than 100 grams, the declaration must indicate whether the recycled content originates from pre-consumer or post-consumer waste (Article 10).
The Digital Circularity Vehicle Passport (Article 13), which must accompany vehicles placed on the market, shall be freely accessible and contain, in digital format, the following information:
Once finally adopted, this Regulation will repeal the current End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (Directive 2000/53/EC).