Looking To the Future: Planned RecyclabilityTo protect the environment from depletion and ensure the continuing availability of vital resources, we must conserve, both in the production stage and afterward.When designing new cars, Mitsubishi engineers plan for the future by thinking about ways to reuse the wealth of materials that make up the vehicle when it reaches the end of its service life. About 75% of the total weight of a scrapped vehicle is currently being recycled. The Environmental Council is most concerned with the remaining 25%.
Mitsubishi plans years ahead by making cars more suitable for future recycling. Plastic parts are increasingly being made of easily-recyclable plastic. To facilitate future recycling systems, plastic parts are being installed in ways that make them easier to remove and identify.
Mitsubishi production facilities also are committed to conserving materials by reusing them whenever possible, often by reforming them for use in different capacities.
Coding for Recycling
Many plastic parts can be recycled for other uses. To accomplish this, the parts and the type of plastic they are composed of must be easily identifiable.For several years, Mitsubishi has been marking all plastic parts weighing more than 100 grams with two identification codes: the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) codes, and the German VDA codes. These codes will help future recyclers identify parts and the types of plastic they contain.
| ORIGINAL | REUSE |
|---|---|
| Bumper (PP, TPO) | Bumper, interior substrate |
| Seat pad (PUR) | Floor pad, backbone pad |
| Trim (PP) | Underseat tray, fan shroud |
| Cover materials (PVC) | Dashboard silencer |
| Bumper face | TPO, PP, PUR |
| Front grille | ABS |
| Side moulding | PVC |
| Side garnish | PP, PUR |
| Air spoiler | *PPE, PUR, SMC |
| Wheel cover | PPE/PS, PA, PPE/PA |
| Pillar cover | PP |
| Instrument panel | PVC, PVC/ABS, PUR, PP, AS-G |
| Seat | PVC, PET, PA, PP |
| Carpet | PA, PET, PP |
Highly Recyclable
TPO (Thermoplastic Olefine Elastomer)Recyclable
PP (Polypropylene)
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
PS (Polystyrene)
PPE (Polypropylene Ether)
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
PA (Polyamide)Recycling Techniques under Development
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
AS-G (Glass-fiber reinforced Acrylonitrile Styrene)
PUR (Polyurethane)
SMC (Sheet Moulding Compound)
Painted Plastics
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Copyright 1995 by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.
