Recyclable Instrument Panel Systems: A Step Closer to the Green Car

Recyclable content of motor vehicles is presently 75%, by weight, the majority of which is iron based components. Approximately 9% of the vehicle weight is in the form of various plastics. Today these materials are shredded and landfilled as automotive shredder residue (ASR). General Motors is putting greater emphasis on recycled automotive component systems through the use of the following environmental principles to guide the design and manufacture of our vehicles:

1. 1.
   General Motors is committed to actions to restore and preserve the environment.
2. 2.
   General Motors is committed to reducing waste, conserving resources, and recycling materials at every stage of the product life cycle.
3. 3.
   General Motors is committed to the development and implementation of new materials and process technologies to enable rapid disassembly of component systems at the end of the vehicles' useful life.

Additional forces driving recycling efforts stem from:

1. 1.
   The reduction in the number of landfills.
2. 2.
   Anticipated future legislation aimed at the recycled content of future vehicles.

This technical presentation contains information and descriptions of recyclable instrument panel systems. Examples of three potentially recyclable instrument panel systems will be discussed. Attention will be given to design flexibility, quality, and costs for automotive components manufactured from processes utilizing these materials.