SEAT & CUPRA invests €4.85 million in a new Circular Economy Hub in Barcelona

SEAT & CUPRA has reinforced its long-term commitment to sustainability with the launch of a new Circular Economy Hub in Barcelona’s Zona Franca, following an investment of €4.85 million. The project transforms the company’s former Workshop 7 into a dedicated facility for vehicle dismantling, parts recovery, and component recycling, marking a new milestone in the group’s circular economy strategy.

The new Circular Economy Hub is already operational and has received €1.32 million in public funding through Spain’s PERTE Circular Economy programme.

The facility focuses on the recovery of parts and materials from pre-series SEAT and CUPRA vehicles, which can be reused in new cars, recycled, or reconditioned for resale through external partners. This approach enables more cost-effective solutions for customers while significantly reducing environmental impact.

According to Markus Haupt, CEO of SEAT and CUPRA, the initiative addresses some of the automotive industry’s most pressing challenges. "Decarbonization and reducing the use of raw materials are two of the biggest challenges facing the automotive industry. At SEAT & CUPRA, we want to lead this commitment across the entire value chain. Our new Circular Economy Hub brings us closer to this goal by giving materials and components a second life," he said.
 

“Decarbonization and reducing the use of raw materials are two of the biggest challenges facing the automotive industry”

Markus Haupt, CEO of SEAT and CUPRA

Share quote:

• X
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Whatsapp

Driving circular economy and decarbonisation in Catalonia

The project forms part of SEAT & CUPRA’s broader sustainability roadmap, which aims to minimise the use of virgin raw materials and reduce waste across production processes. The company is already integrating recycled and renewable materials into its vehicles, such as SEAQUAL® YARN made from marine plastics and Dinamica® microfibre, produced with 73% recycled polyester using a water-based process.

In manufacturing, SEAT & CUPRA continues to reduce waste through reuse, recycling, and recirculation. By 2025, the company aims to cut by 60% the waste sent to treatment plants compared to 2010 levels, as a step towards achieving zero waste by 2050. This objective aligns with the Volkswagen Group’s “Reduce & Grow” circular economy strategy and its broader Regenerate+ sustainability framework. The company is also actively involved in R&D projects focused on component recovery and battery recycling at the end of vehicle life.

Beyond circularity, the investment also supports SEAT & CUPRA’s decarbonization goals. Since 2010, the company has reduced CO₂ emissions from its facilities by 75%. It aims to achieve carbon neutrality at its installations by 2040 and become a fully carbon-neutral company by 2050, in line with the Volkswagen Group’s Zero Impact Factory initiative.

The new Circular Economy Hub also underlines SEAT & CUPRA’s commitment to Barcelona’s industrial and innovation ecosystem. In 2024, the company signed an agreement with the Barcelona City Council to promote innovation and circular economy initiatives jointly. The launch of this facility is a concrete outcome of that collaboration, contributing to the consolidation of Barcelona as a technological and industrial hub while advancing sustainable urban mobility in Catalonia.

Source: SEAT & CUPRA