Circular Cars Initiative launched at United Nations Climate Action Summit

On the occasion of the United Nations Climate Action Summit, Climate KIC, the World Economic Forum and several partner organisations have unveiled an effort that aims to radically reduce the automotive industry’s footprint: The Circular Cars Initiative.

Cars are responsible for 90 per cent of air pollution in cities and contain 1.4 tonnes of material on average. At the end of a vehicle’s life, little of this material is recovered and re-used. However, technological advancements and environmental concerns are now driving a rapid transformation of individual mobility.

The initiative works towards transforming the industry through the lens of the circular economy and mobility-as-a-service. The joint partners have three focus areas: Design for longevity through sharing and pooling concepts, improved materials management and advanced re-manufacturing. 
 
The Circular Cars Initiative engages stakeholders along the automotive value chain. This includes material suppliers, fleet operators, re-manufacturers, recyclers, data platforms, and regulators. At its core, the initiative is a collaboration between the World Economic Forum and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, with Climate KIC as a key partner. Technical support is provided by SystemIQ, an environmental services consultancy. Other key partners are chemicals company Lanxess, and LeasePlan, a world leading car-as-a-service company.