Biobased plastics in vehicles

The European Commission is considering a mandatory 25% recycled plastic content in vehicles to reduce reliance on primary materials. In this report, commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, we explore the potential of incorporating biobased plastics into this target to enhance circularity in the automotive sector.

Approximately 2,200 kilotonnes of plastics are used annually in vehicles put on the European market, with six polymers (PP, PUR, PA, PE, ABS/SAN, PET) accounting for over 80% of this usage. Drop-in biobased versions of major polymers exist (e.g., bio-PE, bio-PP, bio-PET, bio-ABS) and would be able to directly replace their fossil-based counterparts.

As a rough estimate the technical substitution potential for biobased plastics in vehicles is estimated at around 70%. In the short term, substituting 5–10% of fossil plastics with biobased alternatives in EU vehicles is considered feasible, given current biomass availability and production capacities.

Biobased plastics can offer lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to fossil plastics. However, sustainability criteria are essential to mitigate risks like biodiversity loss due to land use changes.

A circular plastics target for vehicles can be shaped in different ways:

1. Target for recycled plastic only: Vehicles must contain at least 25% recycled plastic.
2. Separate targets for recycled plastic and biobased plastic: Vehicles must contain (for example) at least 25% recycled plastic and 5% biobased plastic.
3. Combined target: Vehicles must contain at least 25% recycled and/or biobased plastic.
4. Combined target with a cap on biobased: Vehicles must contain at least 25% recycled and/or biobased plastic. Biobased plastics account for at most (for example) 10%.

Including biobased plastics in targets gives vehicle manufacturers flexibility to choose the most appropriate/cost-effective materials, making it easier to achieve a circular plastics target. It also signals the EU’s commitment to diverse solutions beyond recycling. It helps prepare the industry for a future requiring multiple circular strategies to achieve fully circular plastics in vehicles.