Instrument Panel Skin Manufactured with 100% Recycled TPO Material 2002-01-1262

Desiring to push thermoplastic poly-olefin (TPO) technology to its fullest limits and to confirm our position as the leader in the manufacturing of environmentally friendly TPO instrument panels, we have designed a process to manufacture 100% recycled instrument panel skins. This closed-loop process begins with extruding 100% recycled TPO flake into sheet stock to be painted and vacuum formed. The painted sheet is vacuum formed and the offal is ground into regrind flake, ready to be extruded again, thus completing the closed-loop process.

This paper will describe a 100% closed loop recycling process for TPO instrument panels, discuss the intense validation process for recycled material and prove the robustness and durability of this interior solution.