Febelauto realizes a 97.7% recycling score for cars in Belgium

Febelauto will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025. It is a Belgian organization committed to the sustainable recycling of cars and high-voltage batteries from electrified vehicles.

Since its start in 1999, Febelauto has organized the recycling of some 2.6 million vehicles in Belgium, recuperating 2.5 million tons of (raw) materials.  In 2023, 6,662 end-of-live HEV batteries were also processed, representing 459 tons of recycled material.

A large part of these batteries are reused or given a second life as stationary electric storage units. The rest are recycled. Undoubtedly, this number will increase in the coming years as a growing number of EVs are on the market.

97.7% recycled

Today, 97.7% of a vehicle’s total weight is recycled in Belgium. That’s a higher percentage than Europe demands in the future (95%) and puts the country in the top ranking worldwide. “Of these 97.7%, some 22.8% is dismantled and reused as second-hand car parts,” says Febelauto director Catherine Lenaerts. 70.7% is recycled as (raw) materials, and 4.2% is used to recuperate energy.

A new Febelauto project, Ready2Reuse, wants to promote using second-hand car parts. In Belgium, this practice is relatively unknown, but Febelauto wants to follow the example of neighboring countries and create a more sustainable car ecosystem.

Febelauto also points to the new European legislation on batteries, which will be a game-changer in the future. This legislation will cover the entire lifecycle of vehicles and batteries and support a circular economy. To support this evolution, Febelauto also organizes a ‘Circular Tour’ for authorities concerned and important stakeholders.

Zoetropes at the Brussels Motor Show

Febelauto is also present at the Brussels Motor Show (hall 9) and has seven zoetropes on its stand. These cylindrical stroboscopic animators represent a vehicle’s circular life cycle. They are interactive and teach visitors how these vehicles get a circular second life.

Next to the zoetropes, visitors can discover circular products made of recycled materials from end-of-life vehicles. Valentine Tinchant designed these products, and she also made some clothing made of recycled materials under the name ‘Car Couture’. The message is clear:  recycling is important, and one can also be very creative with the ‘new’ materials one produces.