Faurecia and recycling firm Veolia to collaborate on automotive interiors

PARIS — Faurecia and the French recycling company Veolia have signed a cooperation and research partnership with an aim to use on average 30 percent of recycled plastics in car interiors by 2025, the companies said.

The collaboration, under which recycled plastics will be used in instrument panels, door panels and center consoles in cars across Europe, will reduce Faurecia’s carbon footprint, helping it advance its CO2 neutrality plan, and expand Veolia’s product range to vehicle interiors.

“The use of recycled plastics is one of the key challenges for the ecological transformation of the automotive industry,” the companies said in a statement on Tuesday. “Today, automotive interiors are mostly made of virgin material.”

Automakers are seeking to increase the recycled and sustainable content of their vehicles to meet corporate sustainability goals, and to match the environmental promise of electric cars.

Volkswagen is touting recycled materials used in the new ID Buzz electric van, including floor coverings, some seat covers and the headliner. BMW and Mercedes-Benz are also among automakers seeking to use more recycled materials in cars such as the Mercedes EQ full-electric lineup and the BMW iVision Circular concept vehicle.

Renault Group is in the process of converting its Flins assembly plant near Paris into a center for refurbishment and recycling.