Chicago, Illinois — LKQ Corporation released its 2022 Global Sustainability Report this week, in which the aftermarket salvage giant says it processed 770,000 vehicles in 2022, recycling 97 million pounds of aluminum, nearly seven million pounds of copper and more than 123 million pounds of scrap steel.
According to data in the Sustainability Report, LKQ procured 768,000 vehicles and processed 770,000 vehicles in 2022. The company says the total number of individual parts it sold in 2022 was approximately 13 million.
LKQ also recovered more than 1.4 million catalytic converters; recycled more than two million tires and processed nearly one million tons of crush auto scrap materials.
While some figures were down compared to 2021, LKQ says “the downward trend…is being attributed to location closures and difficulties in purchasing vehicles due to market conditions.”
The company also outlined other initiatives in the areas of end-of-life EV battery research—a joint study with the German RWTH Aachen University wherein the partners investigated challenges with defective and end-of-life batteries to demonstrate possible solutions in battery reuse, remanufacturing, repair and recycling.
“The study focuses on critical elements and potential solutions in the value chain,” wrote LKQ in the 2022 Sustainability Report. “A fully closed loop shows the highest savings in cost and minimizes CO2 emissions, stressing the importance of battery repair and remanufacturing.
“Recycling of raw materials remains important but should only be considered as a last resort.”
Other highlights from the report include LKQ’s progress toward a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal for 2050; details on the company’s first inclusion group, the LKQ Veterans Network; the newly adopted Global Supplier Code of Conduct; LKQ Community Foundation activities in 2022 and more.
LKQ operates 170 dismantling facilities across North America. Click here to read the full report.
