Jaguar Land Rover upcycles aluminum to cut carbon emissions by a quarter. Image credit: Jaguar Land Rover
British automaker Jaguar Land Rover is experimenting with a new recycling process that could help curb aluminum production emissions as part of its Destination Zero mission. Through Destination Zero, the automaker is hoping to achieve “zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion” through its manufacturing and vehicles with innovative and autonomous technologies. Jaguar Land Rover’s latest efforts have the potential to reduce the its reliance on raw materials. Upcycling production The REALITY project “upcycles” aluminum waste from drink cans, bottle tops and even end-of-life Jaguar and Land Rover models into new high-grade aluminum for new vehicles. Although aluminum is one of the most recycled materials globally, post-consumer recycled aluminum is primarily used for everyday products and rarely for high-end applications such as car manufacturing. According to Jaguar Land Rover, the REALITY process cuts carbon dioxide emissions by up to 26 percent, as well as reducing the amount of virgin aluminum used to manufacture new cars. The method was first tested on pre-production Jaguar I-Pace prototypes.
The REALITY project uses post-consumer recycled aluminum as part of new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. Image credit: Jaguar Land Rover