News Release

Crada team recognized for award-winning collaboration in environmental innovation

Grant and Award Announcement

DOE/Argonne National Laboratory

The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, the United States Council for Automotive Research's Vehicle Recycling Partnership and the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council have been awarded the Plastics Recycling and Sustainability Award in Enabling Technologies by the Society of Plastics Engineers for their work in the optimum recycling of plastics and other materials from end-of-life vehicles.

The three entities are research partners whose work is being conducted under a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) among Argonne, the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC-PD), and USCAR's Vehicle Recycling Partnership (VRP), whose members are DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation.

The award recognizes technological innovations that demonstrate significant impact and environmental benefits.

"Sustainable end-of-life vehicle recycling is a global issue and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts and technologies," said Ed Daniels, director of Argonne National Laboratory's Energy Systems Division. "Our achievements were made possible through the successful collaboration of the entire team, which was driven by our shared environmental concerns."

"It's wonderful to see Argonne, the Plastics Division of the ACC and the VRP members – DaimlerChrysler, Ford and General Motors receive recognition for their longtime collaboration and environmental leadership," said Don Walkowicz, USCAR executive director. "The CRADA team's work in implementing sustainable recycling solutions that keep waste out of landfills, save energy and put materials into reuse demonstrates the power of collaboration in addressing societal issues."

The team has been working together on mechanical recycling technologies as well as processes for chemical conversion of end-of-life vehicle materials to fuels and chemicals. The team also is working to anticipate and meet the recycling needs for components and parts in future and emerging vehicles such as hybrids and fuel cell vehicles.

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CRADA funding is provided by the three U.S automakers comprising the VRP, the ACC-PD and the U.S. DOE Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies.

More information is available at: http://www.es.anl.gov/Energy_systems/CRADA_Team_Link/Index.html

The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory conducts basic and applied scientific research across a wide spectrum of disciplines, ranging from high-energy physics to climatology and biotechnology. Since 1990, Argonne has worked with more than 600 companies and numerous federal agencies and other organizations to help advance America's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for the future. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

Founded in 1992, USCAR is the umbrella organization for collaborative research among DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation. The goal of USCAR is to further strengthen the technology base of the domestic auto industry through cooperative research and development.

The Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council, a leading trade association of resin producers, advocates unlimited opportunities for plastics and promotes their economic, environmental and societal benefits.


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