What is the climate impact of recycling an end-of-life vehicle? At Febelauto, the management organisation for the processing of end-of-life vehicles in Belgium, we not only wanted to know this, we also wanted to have it objectively calculated. That is why we commissioned an independent study by Eco Repair Score, in collaboration with VITO.
3,400 kg of CO₂ eq per car!
The results are clear: every sustainably recycled car saves an average of 3,400 kg of CO₂ eq. That is equivalent to the annual CO₂ absorption of 155 mature trees. Thanks to the reuse of parts and the recycling of metals, plastics and other materials, a huge amount of energy and primary raw materials are saved.
Why this is important
- For consumers: your old car still has value. By bringing it to an authorised collection point, you are directly contributing to lower CO₂ emissions, but also to the reuse of still usable parts and the recovery of valuable raw materials.
- For car importers, leasing companies and insurers. They can include these figures in their sustainability reporting (VSME/CSRD). It proves in black and white the contribution they make to the climate and the circular economy.
- Companies and governments can also use the figures in the context of their sustainability policy. Your discarded fleet = climate gain.
- For the planet: Belgium is heavily dependent on imported raw materials. Every car that is recycled correctly reduces that dependence and strengthens the circular cycle.
Making an impact together
The CO₂ study shows that recycling goes far beyond waste management. The more vehicles that are given a second life through official channels, the greater the benefit for everyone.
Discover the full study and how you or your organisation can make an impact:
Read the Febelauto CO₂ study (French)
Read the Febelauto CO₂ study (Dutch)
