Renault launched the Renault eco2 signature in May 2007 to identify its most efficient and economical vehicles.
The signature reflects Renault's aim to inform customers of the environmental progress it has made across the vehicle life cycle in the last 10 years.
Renault eco2 vehicles fulfill three ecological criteria in Production, CO2 emissions and Recycling.
Taking action for the environment means looking ahead. Renault will apply stricter conditions to its eco2 label to keep pace with the major progress made by future generations of vehicles.
ECO2 SYMBOL
A vehicle is given the Renault Eco2 symbol if it:
Emits less than 120g/km of CO2 or operates on biofuels (in France), on E85 ethanol or on B30 biodiesel
Is manufactured in a plant that has been certified ISO 14001
Can be 95% recoverable at the end of its lifecycle (recyclable for other use or as a source of energy) and it includes at least 7% recycled plastics in its plastic mass.
MORE ON CO2
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and energy consumption
CO2 is the main culprit behind the greenhouse effect that threatens climate change. In consuming corresponding amounts of fossil fuel, motor vehicles release large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. Renault pursues a number of major research initiatives to reduce these emissions.
To start with, Renault strives to minimize CO2 emissions from its gasoline and diesel engines. This problem is tackled from many different angles, including optimized fuel combustion, lightweight vehicle design, and reducing friction between moving parts. Improvements in all these areas help reduce fuel consumption, and thereby CO2 emissions.
Vehicle aerodynamics also has a bearing on fuel consumption. Recent developments in digital aerodynamic modelling provide engineers with valuable insights into the impact of design choices on fuel consumption.
Renault takes part in ambitious research programs on alternative energies capable of eventually taking over from classic petroleum fuels, either in the near future (for biomass fuels and battery-electric vehicles) or within a longer time-frame (for fuel cells to power electric vehicles).
ECO2
MANUFACTURING
"The vehicle is manufactured in a plant that has been certified ISO 14001"
ISO 14001 certifies the progress made by an industrial site to reduce its water and energy consumption and the visual and audible disturbances, as well as the discharge of pollutants into the air and water.
Since 1996 Renault has decreased: its energy consumption by 25% (kW/vehicle),
its water consumption by 57% (m³/vehicle),
its waste by 65% (kg/vehicle),
its water-borne effluents by 38% (kg/vehicle)
its industrial liquid effluents by 44% (kg/j/vehicle).
RECYCLING
To obtain the Renault eco² signature, at least 7% of the vehicle's plastic content has to be made of plastic recovered from end-of-life products.
This value represents the content of recovered plastic used in components stipulated by the ISO 14 021 standard.
Ths percentage varies from between 7% and 13% for Renault models
95% recoverable means that: 95% of its mass can be re-used ("a new life"):
10% can provide energy (cement production, heating, etc.)
85% for recovering matter, re-use.
Renault eco2 vehicles are eco-designed so that they can be 95% recovered by weight during end-of-life processing.
Eco-design: - support of the development of products with minimized environmental impact during the whole life cycle. The “traditional” product life chain (such as production, distribution and use). Introducing environmental concerns in this stream is called “Eco-design”. End-of life Management: - Demonstrate an eco-efficient way to close the material and component loop.
Re-using and recycling products, components and materials (such as take back, re-use and
recycling) Operation of this stream is called “End-of life Management” Innovative Project/System Design:
Development of products which are fast to disassemble, enabling the re-use of components and materials. Technical innovations to reduce the environmental impact of production and product:
-avoidance of hazardous substances
-reduced material weight
-lower power consumption
Conversion of products into services (dematerialization)
Development of new core technologies such as solar power, grow-again materials, …
New Production Technologies:
Investigation of specific application possibilities of materials, which have already been developed in co-operation with the suppliers Development of industrial, environmentally sound production processes Development of processes that enable the use of industrial second raw materials in manufacturing
