Detailed Version - Volkswagen AG

6 Recycling end-of-life vehicles with the VW SiCon process
Main Shredder residue recycling process
Iron and steel
Non-ferrous
materials
Raw
granulate
Fig. 23: Selective processing of the material fractions from the VW SiCon process
Of course, we have also drawn up a Life Cycle Assessment for the VW SiCon process,
comparing it with the dismantling and subsequent recycling of end-of-life vehicles
[Krinke et al 2005]. Fig. 24 shows the results of this assessment. The Life Cycle Assessment
revealed that the process has advantages in the environmental impact categories
global warming potential, acidification potential, photochemical ozone creation
potential and eutrophication potential; these advantages range from 9 percent for
eutrophication potential to 29 percent for global warming potential. In addition, the
study also investigated sensitivity to a number of factors such as transportation distance,
degree of dismantling, the ratio of primary to secondary plastics and the material
composition of the recycled vehicles. Even under less favourable conditions, it was
found that the basic conclusion shown by Fig. 24 still held. In environmental terms,
the VW SiCon process is always preferable to the dismantling of plastic components.
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Shredder residues
Raw
fluff
Customer-specific recycling steps
Granulate
PVC
fraction
Blast furnaces
Vinyloop ®
Raw
sand
Fluff Sand Residues
Sewage sludge
treatment
Non-ferrous secondary
smelting plant
Disposal