Rhodia, Valeo and PSA Peugeot Citroën together demonstrate the environmental benefits of recycledTechnyl^®polyamide

Lyon, France, July 192012 – The environmental benefit of the use of recycled polyamide for automotive applicationshas been validated by a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) jointly led by leading engineering plastics developer Rhodia (member of the Solvay group), Valeo, one of the world’s top automotive suppliers and car-maker PSA Peugeot Citroën.

Rhodia, Valeo and PSA combined their savoir-faire to carry out a multi-criteria analysison the entire life cycle of the fan and shroud assembly, an important engine cooling component for the new Peugeot 208. The part is manufactured by Valeo using recycled Technyl^® polyamide (PA) from Rhodia Engineering Plastics.

The study, which was reviewed by an independent consultancy (BIO Intelligence Service*) compared the environmental impact of using recycled Technyl^®PA in comparison with a standard Technyl^®grade. It took into account the whole value chain emphasizing seven key environmental criteria: climate change, the depletion of non-renewable resources, the impact on the diminution of the ozone layer, acidification, eutrophication, the consumption of primary energy and photochemical oxidation.

The results demonstrate that selecting and using recycled Technyl^® PA significantly reduces the overall environmental impact of the component throughout its entire life cycle. In effect, for the seven targeted criteria the benefits range from-9% to -28%.

Furthermore, the results of the analysis indicate that the entire environmental benefit derives from Rhodia Engineering Plastics’ production phase for the manufacturing of the recycled polyamide. In addition, it is not altered in any way during the injection molding process or during part assemblageand use since the mechanical performance of the recycled Technyl^® PA allows for cooling modulecomponents with an identical design, weight and part life to that made with a standard Technyl^®grade.

"The collaboration between partners such as Rhodia and Valeo,both strongly committed to sustainable development, represents a real advantage in surpassing the regulatory limits for CO₂ emissions and further reducing the environmental impact of automobiles,"commented Louis David, Assistant Director Paint, Materials and ProcessPSA Peugeot Citroën. "These significant results validate the importance of the right choice of technically high-performing recycled materials for better auto eco-design."

The recorded benefit is on the same scale to that of a large automotive series production run. For example, the use of Rhodia’s recycled Technyl^® PA for the annual estimated fan and shroud assemblyproduction for the Peugeot 208 averts the generation of greenhouse gases¹ equivalent to that produced by 400,000 cars or photochemical oxidation² (responsible for ozone peaks) comparable to that made by 2,200,000 vehicles all traveling around Paris’ ring road.

On average, 20 percent of a car comprises 150 to 250kg of plastic parts. Therefore thecollaborative initiative between Rhodia, Valeo and PSA scientifically confirms the potential of the growing use of recycled plastics to help answer the environmental challenges facing the automotive industry.

*www.biois.com

¹Equivalent in kg of CO₂

²Equivalent in kg of ethylene

Technyl®is a registered trademark of Rhodia, member of the Solvay group.

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Rhodia,member of the Solvay group, is a specialty chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable development. As a leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its customers’ performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Structured around 11 Global Business Units, Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, electronics, flavors and fragrances, health, personal and home care markets, consumer goods and industrial markets. Rhodia employs around14,250 people worldwide and generated sales of €6.17 billion in 2011.

For information, please visit our institutional website athttp://www.rhodia.com

SOLVAYis an international chemical Group committed to sustainable development with a clear focus on innovation and operational excellence. Its recent acquisition of specialty chemicals company Rhodia created a much larger player, which is realizing over 90% of its sales in markets where it is among the top 3 global leaders. Solvay offers a broad range of products that contribute to improving the quality of life and the performance of its customers in markets such as consumer goods, construction, automotive, energy, water and environment, and electronics. The Group is headquartered in Brussels, employs about 29,000 people in 55 countries and generated EUR 12.7 billion in net sales in 2011 (pro forma). Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on NYSE Euronext in Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB – Reuters: SOLBt.BR).

For information, please visit our institutional website athttp://www.solvay.com

Contacts

Industrial Media Relations

Alan Flower ( +32 474 117091 alan.flower@indmr.com

Rhodia Engineering Plastics

Jérôme Pisani (+33 4 26 19 70 87 jerome.pisani@eu.rhodia.com