EU new regulation on circularity and end-of-life vehicles

The EU Commission has published a Proposal for a Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles, amending the EU framework type approval regulation (EU) 2018/858, and repealing the End-of-life directive 2000/53/EC.

The draft Regulation establishes criteria for vehicle design and manufacturing concerning reusability, recyclability, and recoverability, as well as the incorporation of recycled materials. These criteria are to be assessed during vehicle type-approval. Additionally, it mandates information and labeling standards for vehicle parts, components, and materials. The Regulation further outlines obligations regarding extended producer responsibility, end-of-life vehicle collection and treatment, and regulates the export of used vehicles from the Union to third countries.

The proposal builds on and replaces two existing Directives: Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles and Directive 2005/64/EC on the type-approval of motor vehicles with regard to their reusability, recyclability and recoverability.

The primary goal of the amended legislation is twofold: enhancing circularity in vehicle design while bolstering the Single Market. The proposal delineates a set of criteria to ensure that new vehicles are engineered to facilitate the recycling and reutilization of spare parts at the end of their lifecycle.

Furthermore, the proposal seeks to elevate the incorporation of recycled materials in new vehicles, stipulating a minimum requirement of 25% recycled plastics. Additionally, it empowers the Commission to establish targets for recycled steel, critical raw materials (CRMs), and aluminum, contingent upon a thorough evaluation of their value addition and feasibility.

The third objective is to enhance the quantity, quality, and value of reused and recycled materials derived from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). To achieve this, valuable components and materials should be extracted from ELVs before the shredding process, and waste treatment procedures should be refined to enable high-quality recycling.

The approximate adoption date of the new regulation is 2025.