Recycled Carton-Made Vehicles

Fiat, the iconic Italian automaker, has taken a step toward circular innovation by becoming the first car manufacturer to integrate recycled materials from used beverage cartons into its vehicle design. This sustainability milestone debuts with the latest model of the Fiat Grande Panda, which features components crafted from PolyAl, a recycled composite derived from the thin polyethylene and aluminum layers found in beverage cartons.

Each Grande Panda includes PolyAl sourced from approximately 140 recycled cartons, with the material being used in the car’s central console, dashboard, and both the front and rear interior door panels. PolyAl, a byproduct of carton recycling, is composed primarily of polyethylene (PE) and aluminum (Al), and is extracted from the non-paper portion of typical beverage cartons, which are made up of roughly 75% paperboard, 20% plastic, and 5% aluminum foil.

“[...] Our product innovation has successfully met this technical challenge for Fiat, which is testament to our dedication to sustainable innovation that supports a journey toward a more circular, responsible future,” said Giuseppe Crisci, general manager at Lapo Compound.

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