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GM Engineer Offers Thoughts On More Recycled Content In Manufacturing

Using recycled materials and finding ways to reduce ways are strategic components to nearly ever company’s business model. General Motors is no different and one of its material engineers recently penned a few thoughts on how to incorporate more recycling into the manufacturing process.

It takes an open mind to look for new areas and places recycled materials can be incorporated, something Matthew Vandyke makes clear. He also approaches the thought process by remembering recycled doesn’t always mean inferior.

Approaches like these that have led to GM’s programs to recycle water bottles at its facilities and using the final product to manufacture engine insulation for its engines, while the other materials are sent off to become coats for the homeless. GM also looks for discarded tires to recycle and use in its manufacturing process.

As for moving forward, Vandyke says it best.

Even as we continue to use large amounts of recycled plastics in the automotive industry, there is still an overwhelming amount that is underutilized and potentially landfilled. I encourage us all to think about using recycled plastics when possible to continue the trends that have already been started.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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  1. It’s really cool that GM is doing this, but I wonder what average customers know about it. Unless they think it would turn people away, it seems like they should deboss “recycled” symbols in things customers would see (insulation panels under the hood, etc.) so it becomes an obvious selling point.

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