Automotive Sustainability - America's Plastic Makers

Automotive Innovations

A robust, reliable supply of plastics is critical to U.S. automaking strength. Plastics contribute to safer and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks. And plastics enable the enhanced performance of our autonomous and electric vehicles.

Plus: Dig into growing efforts to recycle more auto plastics and create a more circular economy. 

New Report: Plastics Drive Auto Safety and American Manufacturing Strength 

America’s automakers rely on plastics to build our cars and trucks. Supporting a robust and reliable supply of plastics is critical for American auto manufacturing strength, innovation and job growth.

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Innovations in Auto Plastics Contribute to Fuel Efficiency, Safety and Performance in Our Cars and Trucks

Automakers Use Plastics to Improve Fuel Efficiency



Carmakers are squeezing more miles out of a gallon of gas and an EV charge in part by replacing heavier materials with lighter weight plastics. Displacing heavier materials with strong yet lightweight plastics helps reduce the weight of autos. 

Lighter weight = Increased fuel efficiency.  Increased fuel efficiency cuts auto emissions, reduces our nation’s energy use… and saves us money at the pump.

A 10% reduction in vehicle weight can result in a 6% – 8% fuel economy improvement.

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Safety: Plastic/Composites Help Protect Us

Safety advances in today’s vehicles – many enabled by plastics – save countless lives and reduce injuries.  In addition, fiber-reinforced polymer composites (such as carbon fiber-reinforced plastic) components absorb multiple times the crush energy of steel, according to NHTSA.

(BTW: That’s one reason racing cars tend to be made with super strong yet lightweight plastic composites.)  Plastics enable air bags and seat belts plus energy absorbing innovations such as front-end modules, modular seats and bumpers that protect vehicle occupants every day. 

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Plastics Enable Autonomous & Electric Vehicles

Plastics enable autonomous vehicles by making their complex electronic brains work reliably and safely. Autonomous cars and trucks rely on an array of embedded sensors, including cameras, radars and satellite receptors, all of which are made with plastics. For example, light detection and ranging (LIDAR), along with video detection and ranging (VIDAR) are critical as they help the car navigate and avoid collisions.

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Plastics also encapsulate and insulate these technologies from radio interference, humidity, dust and temperature changes to keep them operating safely, which helps keep occupants safe.


EV batteries – which today typically comprise about a third of vehicle mass – continue to shed weight in part due to lightweight plastic battery packs, which can improve vehicle range. 

And the charging and refueling stations made with plastics and composites are impact and corrosion resistant, help prevent tampering, provide electrical insulation safety and can withstand many extreme weather conditions. 

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Strengthening Automotive Plastics Recycling

As vehicles become lighter, smarter and more advanced, it’s equally important to ensure the materials used in them are recovered and reused at end of life.

Major automakers are already designing components for recyclability and increasing the use of recycled plastics in headlamps, bumpers, lift gates, seat cushions, insulation and critical engine parts. We are working across the entire end-of-life vehicle (ELV) plastics supply chain including dismantlers, shredders, recyclers and automakers to improve recovery, recycling and reuse of automotive plastics.

Our Focus

  • Strengthen federal policy that supports end-of-life vehicle recycling.
  • Expand the use of recycled plastics—including materials produced through advanced recycling technologies—in new automobiles.
  • Advance voluntary recycled-content standards aligned with emerging global requirements.

Major global markets including the European Union and Japan are advancing recycled-content requirements for vehicles, with mandatory thresholds expected within the next 5–6 years. To continue selling and exporting vehicles into these major markets, U.S. automakers will need to meet these recycled-content standards. Falling behind risks losing access to key global markets and weakening U.S. competitiveness. As these standards take shape, aligning U.S. recycled-content policy with global trends helps ensure American automakers can compete internationally, strengthens domestic manufacturing supply chains, and supports long-term U.S. industrial competitiveness. 

Learn how advanced recycling technologies help recover more plastics from end-of-life vehicles and return them to automotive manufacturing

Resources on Automotive Innovations

Want the facts on how plastics help improve fuel efficiency, safety and performance of our cars and trucks? We have resources. 

Driving Exciting Cars… and Sustainable Change in the Auto Industry

Meet Karen, Automotive Marketing Manager, Covestro. My interest in sustainability started when I was studying chemical engineering. I had to specialize and select one of the many options, and one of those was environmental studies. I was very excited to learn all the processes to clean pollutants from the water, from the air. 

America’s Change Makers