Mercedes-Benz AG is working on the goal of increasingly decoupling resource consumption from growth in production output. The company is striving to increase the proportion of recycled materials in its car fleet to an average of 40% by 2030.

It is working with a number of partners in order to achieve a circular approach to scrap tires. One route takes advantage of BASF’s chemical recycling process.

“Through close collaboration with our supplier network, we are replacing raw fossil resources with pyrolysis oil made in part from recycled scrap tires supplied by Mercedes-Benz,” says Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes‑Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, responsible for Development and Procurement.

He stated that the components featuring this technology will enter series production in a number of Mercedes‑Benz models as soon as this year.

The starting point is pyrolysis oil generated from used tires by pyrolysis company Pyrum Innovations AG. BASF combines this with biomethane from agricultural waste. Using both of these materials together, it is possible to create a virgin-quality plastic that is certified in accordance with the so-called mass balance approach.

An independent certification confirms that the supplier replaced the quantity of fossil resources necessary for the final product with renewable resources and pyrolysis oil from scrap tires. The cooperation between Mercedes-Benz and BASF marks the first use of pyrolysis oil from scrap tires combined with biomethane.

The recovery of secondary materials reduces not only the use of fossil resources but also the carbon footprint of the resulting plastic. For the first time, the innovative recycled plastic has the same characteristics as virgin plastic produced from crude oil. This enables it to be applied quickly to ongoing production as a drop-in solution.

At the same time, it fulfills Mercedes-Benz’s high quality demands, especially in respect of paintability and crash safety. These properties mean the process has the potential to replace a large number of vehicle components made from primary plastic.

This year, the EQE and S-Class will be the first series-production models to be equipped with bow door handles manufactured using a combination of biomethane and pyrolysis oil made from scrap tires, instead of raw fossil resources.

The S-Class will also come with a crash absorber based on this combination of raw materials. As part of the front end, the part creates a more even distribution of the forces acting on the other car in a frontal crash.

Forthcoming models such as the EQE SUV will be equipped with bow door handles made from this innovative plastic as well.

Looking to the future, the aim is to progressively increase the use of this more sustainable recycled material, and also to use chemical recycling in combination with the biomass balance approach for further plastic vehicle parts. The company is currently exploring suitable applications.

Mercedes-Benz AG is working on the goal of increasingly decoupling resource consumption from growth in production output. The company is striving to increase the proportion of recycled materials in its car fleet to an average of 40% by 2030.

It is working with a number of partners in order to achieve a circular approach to scrap tires. One route takes advantage of BASF’s chemical recycling process.

“Through close collaboration with our supplier network, we are replacing raw fossil resources with pyrolysis oil made in part from recycled scrap tires supplied by Mercedes-Benz,” says Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes‑Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, responsible for Development and Procurement.

He stated that the components featuring this technology will enter series production in a number of Mercedes‑Benz models as soon as this year.

The starting point is pyrolysis oil generated from used tires by pyrolysis company Pyrum Innovations AG. BASF combines this with biomethane from agricultural waste. Using both of these materials together, it is possible to create a virgin-quality plastic that is certified in accordance with the so-called mass balance approach.

An independent certification confirms that the supplier replaced the quantity of fossil resources necessary for the final product with renewable resources and pyrolysis oil from scrap tires. The cooperation between Mercedes-Benz and BASF marks the first use of pyrolysis oil from scrap tires combined with biomethane.

The recovery of secondary materials reduces not only the use of fossil resources but also the carbon footprint of the resulting plastic. For the first time, the innovative recycled plastic has the same characteristics as virgin plastic produced from crude oil. This enables it to be applied quickly to ongoing production as a drop-in solution.

At the same time, it fulfills Mercedes-Benz’s high quality demands, especially in respect of paintability and crash safety. These properties mean the process has the potential to replace a large number of vehicle components made from primary plastic.

This year, the EQE and S-Class will be the first series-production models to be equipped with bow door handles manufactured using a combination of biomethane and pyrolysis oil made from scrap tires, instead of raw fossil resources.

The S-Class will also come with a crash absorber based on this combination of raw materials. As part of the front end, the part creates a more even distribution of the forces acting on the other car in a frontal crash.

Forthcoming models such as the EQE SUV will be equipped with bow door handles made from this innovative plastic as well.

Looking to the future, the aim is to progressively increase the use of this more sustainable recycled material, and also to use chemical recycling in combination with the biomass balance approach for further plastic vehicle parts. The company is currently exploring suitable applications.