Mercedes-Benz has officially confirmed that, as part of its Sustainable development strategy Tomorrow XXwill replace the traditional mounting adhesives by removable screws and systems in key components such as headlights And interior panels. This design philosophy will also apply criteria of circular economy to facilitate both the repair like him parts recycling.
The idea seems almost classic: a set of modern headlights no glueOr each module (lens, body or internal electronics) is linked to accessible screws. The result: a repairable componentwhich supposes less waste, less replacement costs And drop in demand to manufacture new parts from scratch.
Repairable headlights: less waste, less costs
Single material, one piece design
Mercedes not only does it change join method. It also reviews the material formulation so that each piece is made of only one type of materialavoiding the complex plastic mixtures which makes it difficult recycling. When removing a headlight, each component can be effectively recycled and recovered as raw material.
Depending on the brandthis approach could double the proportion of recycled materials compared to the current headlightswith a reduction of emissions closely associated with 50% only in this component.
Beyond the lighthouse: interior and circular economy
The change of glue for screws also extends to other car parts. For example, in the interior door panels Mercedes evaluates removable thermoplastic rivets instead irreversible ultrasonic weldingwhich allows separate fabrics, plastics and reinforcements at the end of vehicle lifespan.
This “design with disassembly in mind” is a key piece of the call circular economywhere cars are not only final productsbut sources of materials that they can return to production line.
Real applications already on the street
- The new CLA features a windshield washer fluid reservoir made from 100% recycled polypropylene and bumpers made from 25% recycled materials.
- Mercedes is exploring materials such as synthetic leather derived from used tires and engine mounts made from salvaged airbags.
These changes not only benefit environment; they can also “ring” in your garage. Think about it: fewer scrapped parts, cheaper repairs and a less exposure from the car to price volatility of complex electronic components.
At the end, Mercedes shows that the innovation is not always in the giant screens or the AI Assistants: sometimes, a well placed screw can make the difference between disposable part and a reparable For lifetime.
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