The term recycled content describes the percentage share of recycled material in a product or substrate. It indicates how much of the raw materials used originates from recycling processes and not from primary sources such as petroleum, ore or wood.
In short: recycled content shows how sustainably a product was manufactured, because it reduces the use of primary raw materials and simultaneously returns waste to the production cycle.
In the electrical industry, automotive sector and plastics processing, this metric is becoming increasingly important, not only for ecological reasons but also for regulatory and economic ones.
Fundamentals and Calculation
Recycled content is expressed as a percentage. Example: if a plastic component has 30 kg total mass, of which 9 kg are recyclate, the recycled content is 30 %.
Recycled content = (mass of recyclate / total mass of product) x 100 %
Types of Recyclate
- Post-consumer recyclate (PCR): originates from end-user applications, such as recycled PET bottles.
- Post-industrial recyclate (PIR): production waste, trim or rejects that are directly reused.
- Closed-loop recycling: material remains within the same field of application, for example PET bottle to new PET bottle.
- Open-loop recycling: use in another application, for example PET bottle to polyester fiber.
Standards and Guidelines
Various standards and norms exist for the definition and verification of recycled content:
- ISO 14021: Environmental terms, including “recycled” and “recycled content”.
- DIN EN 15343: Verifiability and traceability of plastic recycling.
- DIN EN ISO 14067: Carbon footprint of products.
- DIN ISO 14024: Environmental labels and markings.
- DIN EN 45557: General methods for calculating the content of recycled materials.
In many industries, customers and regulators demand transparent evidence of recycled content, for example through certificates, audit reportsor product declarations.
Recycled Content in the Electrical and Automotive Industries
- Electrical insulation industry: Materials such as polyester films (HOSTAPHAN, Mylar), polypropylene films or technical plastics can contain defined recycled content, provided electrical and mechanical properties are not compromised.
- Automotive industry: Manufacturers increasingly require suppliers to use components with documented recycled content. Interior and plastic parts in particular must contain minimum shares of PCR materials.
- Cable insulation: The use of recyclates in PVC or PE insulation requires rigorous testing of dielectric strength, insulation resistanceand aging resistance.
- Housings and structural parts: Thermoplastics such as polyamide or polypropylene can be used with recycled content, as long as mechanical and thermal values comply with the applicable standards.
Advantages and Challenges
Advantages
- Reduction of CO2 emissions and raw material consumption.
- Compliance with regulatory requirements and sustainability targets.
- Image gain through ecological transparency.
- Reduction of material costs (with stable quality).
Challenges
- Fluctuating material quality in PCR recyclates.
- Need for additional testing (dielectric strength, aging).
- Compatibility with existing processes and standards.
- Documentation duties and certification.
Practice and Calculation Examples
- PET film: A 100-micrometer film with 20 % recycled content (PCR) is tested for electrical insulation purposes. The key criterion is dielectric strength, which must be at least equal to the primary film.
- PVC cable insulation: 15 % recycled content can be uncritical, as long as plasticizer content and purity are ensured.
- Plastic housings (PA66 with 30 % glass fiber): The use of PIR material can be economically sensible but must be mechanically tested.
GOBA Takeaway
Recycled content is today a key metric for sustainability and resource efficiency in industry. For technical applications in electrical engineering and automotive, recyclates are useful but must be qualified through testing to ensure electrical, thermal and mechanical requirements. Only in this way can the balance between environmental protection, cost optimization and compliance with standards be achieved.