End-of-life Vehicle Recycling Initiatives
Compliance with the Act on Recycling of End-of-Life Automobiles
The Act on Recycling of End-of-Life Automobiles came into force in January 2005. Since then, automobile manufacturers have been responsible for recovering and recycling shredder dust, airbags, and fluorocarbons* generated by end-of-life vehicles. Daihatsu plays an active role in building systems that facilitate the implementation of the Act and works together with affiliated businesses both to make recycling more commonplace and improve the rate of recycling. In addition, we engage in the development of vehicles that can be recycled with minimal load on the environment.
* Fluorocarbons are destroyed
Overview of the Act on Recycling of End-of-life Automobiles
1. Japan Automobile Recycling Promotion Center
2. Automobile shredder residue
Implementing Recovery and Recycling of Three Items*
Daihatsu recovers and recycles airbags and fluorocarbons (fluorocarbons are destroyed) in an efficient manner through the Japan Auto Recycling Partnership—an organization established together with other automobile manufacturers to recover and recycle such items. We also recover and recycle shredder dust through Toyotsu Recycle Corporation’s ASR Recycling Business Department, which was jointly established by Daihatsu, Toyota Motor Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and Hino Motors, Ltd.
* Airbags, fluorocarbons, and shredder dust
Examples of Initiatives
Airbag Initiatives
Daihatsu equips all of its vehicles with airbag collective activation connectors, which enable all airbags in a vehicle to be simply activated without having to be removed. We also provide registered vehicle dismantling companies with instructions on how to dismantle and activate airbags in a simple and safe manner via paper and online versions of our Proper Airbag Processing Manual.
Fluorocarbon Initiatives
With regard to fluorocarbons used as refrigerants in air conditioners, Daihatsu completely eliminated the use of specified fluorocarbons (CFCs) and switched to the use of alternative fluorocarbons (HFCs) in 1994. In addition, we adopted HF0-1234yf, an alternative fluorocarbon, for all passenger vehicles. Moreover, some Daihatsu vehicles now use industry-leading amounts of 300 grams or less of fluorocarbons per vehicle.
Characteristics of fluorocarbons used in vehicle air-conditioning systems
Shredder Dust Initiatives
Daihatsu prioritizes the use of easy-to-recycle thermoplastic resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene and pursues designs that make dismantling and disassembling of vehicles easier. We also use dismantling enhancement marks to clearly indicate how larger components can be easily dismantled. In order to promote the recycling of whole dismantled vehicles—whereby dismantled vehicles have their copper parts removed and are then directly recycled in electric furnaces—we provide instructions on how to remove copper parts (such as wiring harnesses and motors) to consortiums that carry out the recycling of whole dismantled vehicles.
Releasing information on recycling of end-of-life vehicles and information to processing companies
(1) In compliance with the requirements of the Law for the Recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles, Daihatsu releases information of recycling fees for different models and implementation status of recycling. In this way, we strive both to realize efficient recycling activities, and to improve its recycling rates.
Resource recovery results for end-of-life vehicles in FY2019, in compliance with the Law for the Recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles
Daihatsu provides information to automobile recyclers regarding collection fees, transportation fees, collection standards, and collection locations; at the same time, we provide work procedure manuals so that drive batteries from hybrid electric vehicles, and gas containers from compressed natural gas vehicles can be processed safely.
Maintenance and management initiatives
- To ensure that recyclers are processing its end-of-life vehicles in compliance with the Law for the Recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles, Daihatsu accompanies contractors to carry out audits of these recyclers. The audits entail on-site confirmations of processing work and facilities for ASR, airbags, and fluorocarbons; at the same time, they verify processing volumes and public commitments.
- Local governments are responsible for managing processing facilities, and Daihatsu works together with the Japan Auto Recycling Partnership to provide lecturers to train the local government employees responsible.
Goals for 2025
Going forward, Daihatsu will continue to promote the stable processing of end-of-life vehicles in compliance with the Law for the Recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles. We also work together with other automobile manufactures and affiliated businesses to further develop recycling technologies, and to establish schemes to cater to the future spread of electrified vehicles.
Key initiatives:
1. Expanding the scope of materials that can be recycled through developments in ASR sorting technologies
2. Promoting activities aimed at the proper processing of batteries from hybrid and other electrified vehicles, and establishing schemes aimed at reusing and rebuilding such batteries
3. Deploying Japanese automotive recycling technologies to overseas production bases
4. Steadily switching to the use of fluorocarbons (conform the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons)
Examples of Concrete Initiatives
Recycling repaired and replaced bumpers
- Daihatsu collects repaired and replaced bumpers from dealers, then crushes, melts, and pelletizes them. These pellets are then reused to make parts for our vehicles, such as seat undertrays and engine undercovers.
Number of repaired and replaced bumpers collected
Initiatives for difficult-to-process parts
- Some resin outer panel parts contain glass fiber or carbon fiber for lighter weight, and this makes them difficult to recycle and process. Daihatsu collects these difficult-to-process parts from its sales companies, before independently processing them.
