Mediaroom

Automotive suppliers work towards a carbon-neutral mobility, prioritising both human health and the environment

  • Safe manufacturing, use and proper disposal of vehicle parts are a high priority for automotive suppliers.
  • The sustainability criteria are followed both for materials sourcing, and during the design and production of vehicle parts, components, and systems.

The 13th edition of the CLEPA Materials Regulations event confirms that sustainability ranks high on the list of priorities for the automotive supply chain. New developments such as new powertrain technologies, lightweighting, and the use of recycled and bio-based materials are a few of many that are contributing to the long-term success in reducing emissions of the sector,  building on consistent innovation strategies and global efficiency in the value chain. The annual edition of the CLEPA Materials Regulations event gathers experts on the field, discussing the impact of regulation on materials & substances and presenting the efforts that are delivering towards the sector sustainability.

The Green Deal objectives include the implementation of the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, setting new requirements for materials compliance that bring considerable challenges for the automotive industry. This strategy includes no less than 56 legislative and regulatory actions, such as the revision of REACH and meets circularity objectives as will be transposed in the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive, and reporting duties in the SCIP database.

Untitled design

In her keynote speech, CLEPA Secretary General Sigrid de Vries remarked on the importance of the EU chemicals regulation “Since REACH came into force, the automotive industry has put considerable effort into implementing the complex requirements of EU chemicals regulation throughout its complex and global supply chain, to follow the sector-specific guidelines. Any new regulatory measure needs to take into account the actual exposure to chemicals, the wider benefit for society and the need for a level-playing field that does not undermine the competitiveness of the EU automotive industry. This can only be achieved by an effective dialogue between policy-makers and industry, as well as the involvement of stakeholders at each stage of the process.”

The opportunities that come with the European Commission’s Circular Economy Action Plan were also part of the discussion. Suppliers are at the forefront of these initiatives, which includes optimisation in the use of materials and minimisation of waste through advanced design and zero-defect manufacturing, providing high-quality products with long lifetimes and promoting repair, remanufacturing and recycling to allow for re-circulation of a larger share of materials. “Making our value chains more circular brings about new business opportunities and helps reinforce the security of supplies. CLEPA is committed to a high-level dialogue to co-create an adequate path to circularity, combining the objectives of the Green Deal and smooth implementation” added de Vries.

The event counted with experts from the European Commission, that presented the possible outcome of the revision of the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) regulation, that is currently consulting with stakeholders and intents to present the first results of the exchange in a workshop planned in Q4 2021. The legislative proposal is planned to be presented in Q4 2022.

The several activities carried out by suppliers in the different regions of the world were also presented, such as the developments and implementation of the SCIP database, provisions for ELV and chemicals in Asia and the US. Global management via GADSL and the International Material Data System (IMDS) were also presented.

On the second day, the focus was on Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility, including some key initiatives from the industry.

In his closing remarks, Mathieu Schwander, CLEPA Technical Regulations Manager highlighted that “Sustainability is a key priority for Automotive suppliers. CLEPA, through its different specialised groups, is driving  sustainable growth in the industry both in the technical implementation and the societal dimension.”

The 14th edition of the Materials Regulations Event is scheduled for Spring 2022 and it may take place in the Stuttgart area (Germany).

About CLEPA

CLEPA, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers based in Brussels, represents over 3.000 companies, from multi-nationals to SMEs, supplying state-of-the-art components and innovative technology for safe, smart and sustainable mobility, investing over 30 billion euros yearly in research and development. Automotive suppliers in Europe employ about five million people across the continent.

Interested in more information?

You can contact CLEPA’s Technical Regulations Manager Mathieu Schwander.

Attachments


    In: CLEPA News, Materials & Substances
    • By Topics

    • Reset