In a groundbreaking move poised to reshape the global automotive recycling landscape, India’s Meta Materials Circular Markets (MMCM) has launched the world’s first structured methodology for the recovery and recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs). Unveiled at the Asia Climate Summit in Bangkok, the innovation is poised to revolutionize circular economy practices while unlocking new opportunities for carbon credit generation.
Developed in partnership with Cercarbono, a leading global environmental project certification standard, the methodology titled “Recovery and Recycling of Materials from End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs)” enables quantifiable emissions reductions through the dismantling and recycling of metals, plastics, and glass from scrapped vehicles. These materials, when used in place of virgin resources, significantly lower carbon footprints while promoting sustainable industrial practices.
“This milestone is deeply personal for all of us at MMCM,” said Mr. Nitin Chitkara, CEO of MMCM. “With this Made-in-India methodology, we are setting a global standard rooted in technical rigor, climate responsibility, and circular economy principles. It’s a proven formula for low-carbon, sustainable growth.”
Cercarbono, alongside third-party verifiers, has officially certified the methodology, ensuring it meets the highest standards of environmental compliance and impact measurement. The approach is tailored for implementation in Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) and emphasizes full legal compliance, traceability, and monitoring—while explicitly excluding informal and environmentally harmful practices.
Mr. Yashodhan Ramteke, Head of MMCM’s Carbon Business Unit, emphasized its sector-specific relevance: “This methodology isn’t theoretical—it’s built by and for the automotive industry. It directly addresses OEMs’ Scope 3 emissions and offers them a measurable, scalable path toward sustainability.”
Cercarbono CEO Alex Saer added, “By providing a structured, credit-worthy framework for ELV recycling, this methodology reduces emissions and mitigates the environmental risks posed by unregulated scrapping.”
As global ELV volumes continue to climb—especially in emerging economies—MMCM’s initiative provides a timely and crucial solution. The methodology is integrated with Cercarbono’s digital platform EcoRegistry for transparent issuance and tracking of carbon credits, further expanding access to climate finance for responsible recycling efforts.
With this pioneering move, MMCM positions India at the forefront of automotive circularity and sets a precedent for how end-of-life vehicle management can align with both economic opportunity and environmental stewardship.
