PPG launches cleaning solvent recycling project with SAIC General Motors

PPG has partnered with SAIC General Motors in China to launch a cleaning solvent recycling project, marking a major step forward in sustainable automotive manufacturing.

The initiative introduces a circular economy model for solvents used in automotive painting, which PPG says enables the reuse of up to 80 per cent by weight of waste solvents collected in OEM paint shops.

The project utilises advanced distillation and purification technology to separate valuable components from waste solvents, repurposing them as raw materials for coatings or as reclaimed solvents.

According to PPG, this closed-loop process offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional solvent disposal methods, which typically involve incineration and result in significant CO2 emissions.

Compared to existing recycling techniques, PPG says the new method also drastically reduces the volume of hazardous waste requiring disposal.

Through this joint initiative, PPG and SAIC General Motors say they will recycle more than 430-tonnes of waste solvents annually.

The technology has already been awarded the 2025 Responsible Care Sustainability Initiative Award from the Association of International Chemical Manufacturers (AICM) in China.

Tony Gu, PPG product engineering director, Automotive Coatings Asia said these technologies “help automakers reduce carbon emissions, minimise waste and improve efficiency while meeting stringent environmental standards”.