MLADÁ BOLESLAV, Czech Republic—The seats of ŠKODA’s new ENYAQ iV electric vehicle will be upholstered with fabric that combines wool with polyester made from recycled plastic bottles.

HANOVER, Germany—Continental is using polyester yarn made from recycled plastic bottles for high-volume production of tires.

KARLSRUHE, Germany—Chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste is both technically feasible and environmentally and financially promising, according to new research from Audi and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

STUTTGART, Germany—Mercedes-Benz is increasingly integrating recycled and sustainable materials into its vehicles.

DETROIT—General Motors is turning its employees’ recycled water bottles into noise-reducing fabric insulation that covers the engine in the Chevrolet Equinox. The bottles—collected from five of its Michigan facilities—are also being turned into air filtration components and insulation for winter coats for the homeless.

OAK RIDGE, TN—Recycled tires could see new life in lithium-ion batteries that provide power to plug-in electric vehicles and store energy produced by wind turbines and solar panels, say researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.