Deconstructing the traditional boundaries of the automotive system through the recycling of composite materials in the design and production of the future car

The automotive sector is one of the most environmentally impactful contexts, not only in terms of the car production chain, but also in the use phase, which is still associated with the consumption of fossil fuels. The type of materials used also contributes to its overall impact. However, what happens when eco-design is followed in the automotive scenario, deconstructing traditional boundaries of design and production phases, and embracing the circular economy approach? Experimentation in bio-based materials and the recycling of high-performance materials is developing a broad strand of research. Therefore, investigating consumer perceptions of sustainability in the automotive industry is crucial. Although the demand for products with a low environmental impact lifecycle is steadily increasing, in the automotive context the research for sustainable solutions has to deal with other priority requirements, such as mechanical performance, fuel consumption, etc. The requirement of environmental sustainability often remains secondary. This contribution aims to present the research conducted by the Department of Applied Sciences and Technologies of the Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy), which explores new possibilities of recycling carbon fiber and glass fiber-based composite materials, which, for the same performance, can be reintroduced circularly in the production of new components, to contribute to the reduction of emissions by 2030. The ultimate goal is to design a systemic scenario based on the recycling of composite materials in the automotive industry, in which the user will be able to ‘drive sustainability’, expanding the boundaries of what the car product has identified until now.