Simoldes Plastics and ELIX Polymers cooperating to use recycled materials for interior applications of premium vehicles

Tarragona, April 29, 2025 - Simoldes Plastics, a leading Tier 1 supplier in the Automotive Industry and ELIX Polymers are working together to get more sustainable recycled materials into new, high demanding interior applications of premium vehicles.

Both companies have set ambitious sustainability targets and are actively working in several circular economy projects. The goal of Simoldes BOOST project during pre-development phase is to increase the usage of renewable materials by 40% during the development phase of their products, focusing on materials with mechanical recycled content and encouraging all suppliers to participate and develop their sustainability programs. This is where ELIX Polymers high quality E-LOOP products with mechanical recycled content are a perfect match, and a technical validation process has been done with the materials PC/ABS E-LOOP 5120MR, which has 30% post-consumer recyclate originated from water bottles waste. The technical validation included mechanical, thermal, processability, odour and emission performance against the stringent requirements for automotive interior non-visible safety product. Cooperation brought the new mindset avoiding over-engineered materials into the real application. The product has shown equivalent properties compared to the traditional prime materials, but the material carbon footprint can be reduced up to a 40%. High demanding upper interior pillars (case study at ‘’A’’) with airbag have been injected in a unique lower injection process supported by high quality injection molds from Simoldes Tools to produce textile covered parts and all component requirements have been fulfilled. Also, visible decorative parts for door panels with class A surfaces have been part of the evaluation program. The parts have been shown during Plastic in Automotive Engineering (Mannheim) conference in March 2025 and also presented to premium Automotive OEMs where high interest have been generated. Mold-flow is available for material and also completes tests results according to pre-development product validation plan.

ELIX Polymers more sustainable E-LOOP product portfolio includes ABS and PC/ABS blends with mechanical recycled content and products with certified raw materials which have circular and biobased feedstocks certified with ISCC+ using mass balance model.

For more information please visit:

https://www.elix-polymers.com/es/productos/12/elix-e-loop

https://www.simoldes.com/en/innovation-plastics/boost/