RecyClass has granted Dow’s Elvaloy AC 1330 additive its first Automotive and Electrical and Electronic Equipment Technology Approval, confirming the material’s full compatibility with the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene recycling stream. The recognition is the first for a single-component technology to meet RecyClass recyclability recommendations aligned with current European recycling infrastructures for these sectors. The approval is positioned by RecyClass as a step toward consistent, science-based guidance that can support greater availability of circular plastics across diverse industrial applications.
“At RecyClass, we believe plastics circularity should span all sectors,” said Paolo Glerean, Chairman of RecyClass. “However, before we can move forward and build sector-specific Design for Recycling Guidelines, it is essential to thoroughly assess the unique needs of each industry. Only with data-driven insights obtained with strong collaboration with the entire value chain, can we develop transparent and reliable recommendations for plastic recyclability and significantly boost the availability of circular materials across all sectors.”
The decision was issued by the RecyClass Automotive and EEE Technical Committee following testing conducted according to the newly developed RecyClass Recyclability Evaluation Protocol for ABS Plastic Components. Trials were performed at AIMPLAS, one of the RecyClass recognised testing facilities for Automotive and EEE, to verify the additive’s behaviour within the ABS stream and its effect on recyclate quality under protocol-defined conditions.
Material and application scope
Elvaloy AC 1330 is a copolymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate containing 30 percent methyl acrylate by weight. For the evaluation, the additive was compounded at 10 weight percent with a natural ABS resin. The formulation targets improved impact performance in ABS compounds, a property relevant to a wide range of end uses. Referenced applications include vehicle interior trim and exterior components, as well as control panels and housings for appliances such as washing machines, coffee machines and kitchen devices.
Regulatory context and next steps
The approval aligns with ongoing policy drivers in Europe, including the proposal for an End-of-Life Vehicles regulation that sets a benchmark of 85 percent recyclability or reusability by mass and the upcoming revision of the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive. Against this backdrop, RecyClass states it will continue to provide industry with standardised, science-based protocols to ensure that advances in product performance do not compromise recyclability. Companies seeking to assess their plastic components for Automotive and EEE applications are invited to apply for testing under the RecyClass framework.
