Groupe Renault creates circular economy vehicle factory

Groupe Renault is overhauling its Flins vehicle factory in France to focus on the circular economy and have a negative CO2 balance by 2030.

The French vehicle manufacturer said the Re-Factory will be Europe’s first circular economy factory dedicated to mobility.

Elements of the new site will be realised between 2021 and 2024 and will involve a large network of multisectoral partners including start-ups, academic partners, major groups and local authorities.

Re-Factory’s activities will be structured around supporting a vehicle's entire life cycle by acting on the main components of the circular economy - supply, eco-design, economy of functionality, maintenance, reuse, remanufacturing and recycling.

Part of the site will be focussed on the potential applications for reusing batteries in electric vehicles to create stationary energy storage.

Luca de Meo, Renault chief executive, said: “With the Re-Factory, Flins will become a European reference in the circular economy.

“It will enable the group to respond to the challenges facing mobility and automotive industry players today - and even more so tomorrow.

“This plant, with an objective of a negative CO2 balance by 2030, is fully in line with the group's global strategy by combining circular economy, reduction of emissions, development of skills and the creation of new value-generating activities.”