The automotive sector is governed by a series of regulations and systems aimed at ensuring environmental sustainability and the safety of materials used in vehicles. Among the primary reference standards are Directive 2000/53/EC, commonly known as the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive, and the International Material Data System (IMDS). Together, these contribute to managing the environmental impact of vehicles at the end of their life and ensuring transparency and traceability of the materials used.
The ELV Directive aims to minimize the environmental impact of end-of-life vehicles by promoting recycling, recovery, and waste reduction. It sets criteria for treatment, collection, and recycling, encouraging the use of environmentally friendly materials and the disassembly of components for reuse and recycling. IMDS is a global system for collecting, archiving, and analyzing data on materials used in vehicles. Its purpose is to provide transparency regarding material composition, support regulatory compliance, and promote sustainability through the responsible management of chemicals and materials.
Vehicle Manufacturers are the primary stakeholders impacted by these regulations. These companies design and manufacture vehicles and are responsible for compliance with ELV requirements and data entry into IMDS. Their obligations include registering vehicles placed on the market and providing annual reports on recycling and recovery progress.
Component Suppliers, companies that supply parts and materials to vehicle manufacturers, are required to provide detailed information on the materials and substances used.
Authorized Treatment Facilities (ATFs) are facilities authorized to handle and dispose of end-of-life vehicles. They must follow specific procedures for recycling and material recovery.
Flashpoint works alongside Vehicle Manufacturers and Component Suppliers, initially assisting with material analysis and the development of strategies for the removal of hazardous substances. An important legislative requirement is to reduce or eliminate the use of hazardous substances in new vehicles, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium.
Following this analysis and strategy development, we support Manufacturers and Suppliers with IMDS data entry, targeted consultancy, and audit to verify material traceability throughout the process—from extraction to production to assembly.
We also provide analysis to ensure compliance with hazardous substance restrictions and associated risk management, as well as the preparation of documents and declarations of conformity.