Ultra-Poly, a prominent player in the field of plastic recycling in the United States, has unveiled an innovative program designed to recycle automotive bumpers a pioneering initiative of its kind. This program involves the meticulous collection and reprocessing of damaged car bumpers to create a fresh raw material.

In collaboration with Autoneum North America, Inc., a Tier 1 supplier in the automotive sector, Ultra-Poly has engineered a groundbreaking product that utilizes the recycled bumper material as a robust base layer. This layer acts as a substrate for a fibrous composite, which serves as a solution for dampening vibrations and reducing noise in chassis components. Notably, this material has gained recognition in the International Material Data System (IMDS).

As an active member of the PLASTICS Industry Association, Ultra-Poly played a key role in the End of Life Vehicle (ELV) project. This endeavor aimed to explore the feasibility of reclaiming fascia material for reuse in new fascia production. Ultimately, this approach was deemed unfeasible due to surface finish challenges. However, Ultra-Poly identified the potential of the material in other applications involving polypropylene compounds and non-visible applications within the automotive and various industrial sectors.

Leveraging its extensive experience in devising innovative reverse logistics strategies, Ultra-Poly efficiently gathers used bumper covers from auto body shops where they've been detached from vehicles and stripped of any usable components. This program extends significant benefits to these shops, including:

• Cost Efficiency: By eliminating the disposal of these bulky items in waste roll-offs, the program reduces waste management costs and pull frequency.
• Industry Credibility: The used fascia undergo thorough destruction during the process, eliminating the possibility of them being repaired and reentering the supply chain, which could compromise quality.

The resulting material is highly advantageous to converters and brand owners, offering:

• Consistent High Quality: The material boasts a well-balanced combination of stiffness and toughness, ensuring consistent performance.
• Certified Post-Consumer Content: With its 100% Post-Consumer content certification, the material aligns with sustainability goals.

Kevin Cronin, Vice President of Sustainability and R&D, remarks, "This pioneering program stands to drive the automotive industry closer to the circular economy standards. Sustainability is an integral part of Ultra-Poly's identity, evident across our business model. We are excited about the possibilities this innovative program holds."

Dan Moler, Vice President of Product Development and Engineering at Autoneum North America, Inc., adds, "In light of the growing need for OEMs to incorporate more recycled content, this product rises to the challenge. It empowers us to enhance our sustainability by reducing our carbon footprint and engineering a product with End of Life recycling in mind. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to a circular economy, benefiting body shops, recyclers, automotive part manufacturers, OEMs, and above all, the environment."

Ultra-Poly remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering superior recycled resin and compounds to customers, aiding them in meeting sustainability targets and enhancing operational efficiencies. The company provides materials to clients engaged in injection molding, film and profile extrusion across diverse sectors, such as Building Products, Housewares, Automotive, and Oil and Gas. With operations spanning five locations in Pennsylvania, Ultra-Poly produces custom compounded polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) resins derived from recycled plastics, while also offering toll reprocessing services for plant-generated scrap across various industries.

Source: prnewswire.com

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