DENSO CORPORATION, Toray Industries, Inc, Nomura Research Institute, Ltd, Honda Motor Co, MATEC Inc, and REVER CORPORATION have joined forces to establish the BlueRebirth Council. The Council’s mission is to create a seamless manufacturing and recycling value chain that promotes Car-to-Car recycling, beginning with advanced automated precision dismantling of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). This process efficiently deconstructs ELVs to recover valuable materials for reuse in new vehicles.
As the automotive industry works to transition to a more circular economy, it faces the challenge of significantly reducing its reliance on natural resources by increasing the use of recycled materials. While some progress has been made, the common practice of shredding ELVs followed by material sorting has limitations, including difficulties in achieving high-purity recycled materials. Additionally, there has been insufficient collaboration between manufacturers and recyclers, hindering efforts to meet the quality and volume demands of mass production using recycled components. The sector also faces hurdles in automating processes, improving work environments, and addressing labor shortages.
The BlueRebirth Council seeks to overcome these barriers and, by 2035, transform the automotive recycling industry into a “recycled materials manufacturing industry.” This will be a vital component of a new, resource-efficient value chain within the automotive sector. The Council’s long-term goal is to establish a fully functional Car-to-Car recycling system.
To reach this objective, the Council will focus on technology development, research, and collaborative projects with industry partners, including research organizations. The first step is advancing automated precision dismantling technology, which uses AI and sensors to help robots efficiently disassemble vehicles, even those with deformed parts. This system ensures higher quality and greater quantities of recycled materials compared to traditional methods while also addressing workforce shortages.
The Council also aims to enhance transparency in the recycling process by digitally tracking material sources and environmental impact. Sharing this data across the value chain will guarantee a reliable and consistent supply of recycled materials. Through these initiatives, the BlueRebirth Council is committed to expanding the use of recycled materials in automotive manufacturing, ultimately fostering a circular economy within the industry.
