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RESULTS IN WASTE REDUCTION

The Renault eco² range, which reflects the Group’s environmental ambitions, places great emphasis on waste processing and recycling. To qualify for the Renault or Dacia eco² signature, vehicles have to be 95% recoverable at end of life, with at least 5% of plastic content recycled.

This is a major step forward in meeting the European Union’s 2015 objective, whereby all vehicles have to be 95% recoverable by mass. The partnership project with SITA (a leader in global waste management and a subsidiary of Suez Environnement) also aims in the same direction.  

Production: Continue the competitive reduction of waste 

Facts: in 2008, industrial sites of Choisy le Roi, Dieppe and MCA valorized 100% of their waste. The level of valorized waste in Renault plants increased by 20% from 2003 to 2008. The optimized recycling of plastic parts contributed to this result.

 

Sharing good practices as part of the 4R approach (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover energy) launched in 2008 identifies major environmental and financial gains.

 

  • Reduce (R1): A good example is reducing paint sludge through filtration methods, an initiative optimized at the Flins plant in France. This action has resulted in a 20% to 30% reduction in sludge and also generated financial gains.
  • Reuse (R2): The Douai plant in France today recovers 100% of used wax and reintegrates it in the process, for environmental and financial gains.
  • Recycle (R3): Waste recovery at plants has been optimized by enhancing the recycling of plastic parts.
  • Recover energy (R4): For example, by replacing fossil fuels (petrol coke, coal, fuel oil) with used oils and evaporation concentrates from the powertrain plants. The high cooking temperature for the mix of mineral raw materials necessary for producing cement (1,450°C) can be used to incinerate this waste and destroy practically all the heavy metals it contains.

Recycling: a new phase  

Higher recycled materials content

 

Designed to contain 35 kg of recycled plastic, Laguna showed the way in 2007. This figure is equivalent to a full 17% of the car’s total plastic content. In 2009, New Scénic confirms with 34% of recycled plastic. 

 

In April 2008, New Mégane received a certification from UTAC for being 85,26% recyclable and 95,76% recoverable.

 

Renault and SITA: a recycling partnership with a future

 

In the longer term, Renault and SITA plan to set up a joint venture to speed the roll-out of end-of-life vehicle processing in France. This joint venture would take control of INDRA Investissements SAS, a company specialized in automobile recovery. This alliance would help to reach the 2015 objective whereby all vehicles are 95% recoverable by mass.