Developed by Sumika Polymer Compounds Europe, the new rPPGF Thermofil Circle Extra Low Fogging marks a new step in the integration of high-performance recycled materials in the automotive industry.
Made from European post-consumer recycled materials, this glass-fibre reinforced polypropylene compound meets the particularly stringent requirements of headlamp housings applications, where fogging performance is a critical criterion.
With this innovation, Sumika provides a concrete answer to the growing challenges of automotive manufacturers: to integrate more recycled content without compromising on technical performance, perceived quality or regulatory compliance.
A direct response to future European requirements
The announcement comes in a context of major regulatory acceleration for the European automotive sector. At the beginning of 2026, a provisional agreement on the future ELV (End-of-Life Vehicles) directive reinforced the objectives for the integration of recycled materials in new vehicles.
In particular, manufacturers will have to incorporate an increasing proportion of post-consumer recycled content:
- 15% by 2032
- then 25% by 2036
Beyond the quantified objectives, this transformation raises considerable industrial challenges: securing supplies, traceability of materials, quality compliance and management of regulatory penalty mechanisms.
In this context, the development of technical solutions integrating recycled materials is becoming a strategic lever for anticipating future obligations in the European automotive market.
Performance, Circularity and Industrialization
With the Thermofil Circle Extra Low Fogging, Sumika confirms its commitment to accelerating the circularity of engineering plastics in demanding automotive applications.
This new generation of compounds illustrates the rapid evolution of the market: recycled materials are no longer limited to secondary applications, but are now used in technical components with high added value.
Thermofil Circle Extra Low Fogging: a recycled material designed for headlight housings
Driven by a Design for Circularity approach, Sumika Polymer Compounds has developed a new recycled and extra lowfogging PPGF specially formulated to meet the constraints of headlight housings. With Thermofil Circle Extra Low Fogging, the goal is clear: to enable OEMs and automakers to incorporate more recycled materials into demanding technical applications, without compromising on performance or regulatory constraints.
Headlamp housings impose particularly high requirements in terms of thermal stability, resistance over time and, above all, a very low level of fogging in order to preserve the optical performance of lighting systems.
The new Thermofil Circle meets these constraints thanks to its controlled technical performance:
- 50 % of postconsumer recycled content
- Extra lowfogging according to VW50181 standard: ≤ 50 μg/g
- Vicat B50: 132 °C
- Compliance with future ELV requirements
- Tensile modulus: 6,500 MPa
“With the Thermofil Circle, we are demonstrating that it is possible to reconcile technical performance, regulatory requirements and a concrete reduction in CO₂ emissions. This new grade is part of aresponsible industrial approach, where each material innovationcontributes to acceleratingthe transition of the automotive sector.” — Pascal Grippon, Sales Director, Sumika Polymer Compounds Europe
Reduce CO₂ emissions, without compromising on performance
Reducing the carbon footprint has been a major focus of thedevelopment of this new grade. With a carbon footprint of 1.4 t CO₂ eq., the Thermofil Circle offers a significant environmental gain compared to conventional materials. Compared to a virgin PP GF, it reduces CO₂ emissions by 22%, and up to 48% compared to a PBTGF30.
Through this innovation, Sumika confirms its strategy to accelerate the circularity of engineering plastics while supporting the transformation of the automotive industry towards more responsible solutions that are compatible with future European regulations.
Media contact:
Hugo Bouisson, Communication Officer | Sumika Polymer Compounds Europe
Phone: +33 (0)6 75 58 74 69
Email: h.bouisson@sumika.fr
