Carmakers are hitting recycling targets, which say that 85% of a scrap car must be recyclable or re-usable.

Based on cars scrapped through licensed treatment facilities in 2006, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) data shows that manufacturers have hit one of the benchmarks set in the End of Life Vehicles Directive.

It states that 85% of a scrap car must be capable of recovery by 2006, rising to 95% by 2015.

Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, said: “Build-to recycle is now an integral part of the design process.

Alongside better performance at manufacturing site and lower emissions from cars-in-use, this shows sustainability continues to be top of the industry agenda.”

Two-thirds of prospective car buyers will be looking to buy a greener car in the coming year, according to a What Car? survey.

However, almost half of these admit that buying a greener car is for financial reasons.