Understanding ISO 22628: Standard for Vehicle Recyclability and Recoverability

Overview of ISO 22628 Standard

ISO 22628, a key 2002 international standard, establishes a uniform method for calculating the recallability and recoverability rates of new road vehicles. This framework allows manufacturers to consistently assess and declare their products’ end-of-life potential, integrating environmental responsibility from the design stage.

The standard’s mass-based methodology specifies how to calculate these rates as a percentage of a vehicle’s total weight. This approach enables a data-driven assessment of how much material can ultimately be reused, recycled, or recovered for energy.

While designed for new road vehicles, the principles of ISO 22628 have proven influential far beyond the automotive sector. Its effective calculation method has been adapted for other industries—such as rolling stock manufacturing—to evaluate the environmental performance of trains and other transport systems. This adaptability highlights its role as a foundational standard for designing products with their entire lifecycle in mind.

Understanding Recallability and Recoverability Rates

ISO 22628 defines two key predictive metrics—calculated during the design phase— to forecast a vehicle’s environmental performance: the recallability rate and the recoverability rate.

• Recallability Rate: Measures the proportion of a vehicle’s mass that can be reprocessed into new materials or reused as complete components.

• Recoverability Rate: This broader metric encompasses the recallability rate plus the mass of materials eligible for energy recovery, such as through controlled incineration.

The calculation process also incorporates practical and economic factors. A key concept is the recallability index of materials (R), which helps determine whether it is economically feasible to disassemble a product to retrieve its constituent materials.

Mass—Based Metrics Explained

The calculation is based on categorizing post-dismantling materials with two key variables: MTP (the mass of recyclable non-metallic residue) and ME (the mass of material suitable for energy recovery).

This analysis serves as a valuable diagnostic tool, helping manufacturers to:

• Reveal design inefficiencies.

• Pinpoint materials that contribute disproportionately to waste.

• Identify significant cost-saving opportunities.

Vehicle Dismantling and Material Separation

The calculation is based on a standardized vehicle deconstruction process with four distinct stages:

• 1. Preliminary Preparation: The vehicle is polluted by draining all fluids and safely removing hazardous components like batteries and airbags.

• 2. Dismantling: Valuable and reusable parts, such as the engine, transmission, and tires, are systematically extracted.

• 3. Substance Separation: The remaining vehicle hulk is shredded, after which technologies like magnets and eddy current separators sort the material into ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

• 4. Non-Metal Residue Treatment: Advanced methods, such as sensor-based sorters, process the remaining automotive shredder residue (ASR) to extract recyclable materials or prepare it for energy recovery.

Technological Methods in Recycling

While the process’s effectiveness depends on available technology, the standard itself is technology-neutral. It evaluates the outcome of recycling rather than mandating specific methods, which allows the framework to remain relevant as new techniques emerge.

Related Standards and Their Relevance

ISO 22628 works in conjunction with other key standards. Its principles are most effective when integrated with management systems for quality, environmental impact, and safety, including:

• ISO 14000 family (especially ISO 14001): Provides the framework for an environmental management system (EMS) to track data and manage end-of-life processes.

• ISO 9000 family: Ensures quality management systems are in place for consistent and reliable data collection.

• ISO 45001: Governs occupational health and safety during hazardous dismantling and recycling operations.

• ISO 3833: Defines common vehicle types and terminology to ensure clear communication across the supply chain.