TOKYO/NAGOYA, Japan/NEW YORK -- Honda Motor and Nissan Motor are among the Japanese automakers building supply chains for recycled plastic, Nikkei has learned, to make their vehicles greener and comply with expected new European regulations.
Plastic is an essential material in automobile production, used in bumpers, interior components and other parts. Under a 2023 proposal by the European Commission, at least 25% of a new vehicle's plastic would have to be recycled plastic. This regulation would take full effect as early as 2031, raising the specter of noncompliant new vehicles being barred from sale in the European Union.
