Porsche, BASF, And BEST Jointly Complete Breakthrough Pilot For Chemical Recycling Of Automotive Waste

On September 30, Zhuanshu Vision cited Porsche news, Porsche AG (Porsche AG, in cooperation with BASF SE and with the assistance of technology partner BEST Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH, has successfully completed a joint pilot recycling project for mixed waste from end-of-life vehicles. The project verified the feasibility of recovering high-performance plastics from automotive shredder residue (ASR), which consists of a mixed waste made up of foam, plastic, films, and paint particles, primarily sourced from end-of-life vehicles. Currently, such complex material mixtures can only be processed through thermal recovery.

Porsche is committed to promoting a circular economy in the automotive manufacturing sector and has set a goal to increase the proportion of recycled materials in its vehicles.

Gasification technology, as a form of chemical recycling, can convert mixed waste into high-value new raw materials, such as feedstock for plastic production. In the future, this technology is expected to replace existing thermal recovery processes and complement Porsche's circular economy strategy. Chemical recycling is particularly suitable for plastic waste that cannot be processed through mechanical recycling due to technical, economic, or ecological reasons.

This pilot project aims to assess the potential of automotive shredder residue as a future source of recycled materials. The experiment utilizes an innovative recycling process: for the first time, it completely abandons fossil-based materials, instead combining automotive waste with bio-based materials (such as wood chips). Through advanced gasification technology, plastic waste is converted into syngas at high temperatures.

In BASF's integrated syngas production network, new plastics are produced and supplied to component manufacturers.As part of the pilot project, this recycled material, such as a type of polyurethane formulation, is used to produce new steering wheels through the mass balance approach (*).

Porsche steering wheel productionPorsche AG 2025

“This type of pilot project allows us to assess how to further develop the circular economy in the field of sustainability at Porsche, as well as how to integrate chemical recycling into our long-term strategy,” said Dr. Robert Kallenberg, Head of Sustainability at Porsche. “We are testing new recycling technologies with partners to increase the share of recycled materials, to obtain previously unusable recycled resources, and to evaluate new processes for waste streams currently utilized through thermal energy.”

"BASF offers a wide range of recycling solutions, and we firmly believe that a combination of multiple recycling technologies is necessary to achieve recycling goals. We prioritize advancing mechanical recycling and continuously improving its efficiency. The type of waste and the level of sorting determine the most suitable technology. We are convinced that complementary technologies such as chemical recycling are needed to handle the remaining waste that is still being incinerated," explained Martin Jung, President of BASF's Performance Materials division.

The raw materials produced through the gasification process are comparable in quality to traditional raw materials. The products made from these materials meet the requirements for high-performance plastics, and can therefore also be used for safety-critical components.

When these new types of circular feedstocks are introduced into large, complex, and continuously operating production facilities, they mix with conventional fossil feedstocks and are processed into plastic precursors. Through the mass balance method, the new (secondary) feedstocks are traced to the final product. The product and production site are based on internationally recognized systems such as...ISCC PLUS or REDcert² certified by independent auditing organizations.

Porsche's Circular Economy Strategy

Porsche is committed to the responsible and economical use of raw materials, as well as the long-term utilization of vehicles and the materials used in them.Under the sustainable development framework of the "circular economy," Porsche is committed to promoting more eco-sustainable materials and circular concepts within the vehicle value chain. This includes initiatives such as high-voltage battery closed-loop recycling projects, the use of recycled materials, waste reduction, and the remanufacturing of vehicle components.