September 8, 2026
Better cabin air filters. Made easy
At Automechanika, MANN-FILTER will be showcasing new FreciousPlus cabin air filters with recycled coconut-based activated carbon: the more sustainable filters save natural resources, reduce CO₂ and strengthen the circular economy.
Ludwigsburg, 08 September 2026 – MANN-FILTER continues its efforts towards more sustainable filtration products and integrates a new process technology into its FreciousPlus cabin air filters: In future, part of the activated carbon used will come from recycled production residue from our own filter media. The premium brand is the first provider on the independent automotive aftermarket (IAM) to introduce this innovation in series production and thus significantly reduce the use of natural resources. With the gradual transition of its series products, MANN-FILTER is making sustainability very simple for workshops and customers.
“In this process, we are consistently building on our ongoing progress towards sustainability, such as the use of natural lignin, and are laying a further foundation to establish a circular economy,” Marian Anton says as Business Development Manager at MANN+HUMMEL.
Pioneering MANN-FILTER cabin air filters. Now made from recycled, coconut-based activated carbon.
Lowering the consumption of natural raw materials
Activated carbon in cabin air filters is traditionally derived from the shells of matured coconuts. The shells must first be carbonated and then activated – a process that requires a lot of energy, water and agricultural resources: producing one kilogram of fresh, activated carbon requires about 8 kilograms of coconut shells. The use of recycled, activated carbon therefore helps to preserve natural raw materials and strengthen material cycles.
Newly developed recycling process
In collaboration with recycling partners, MANN+HUMMEL, the global filtration expert and MANN-FILTER parent company, has developed a multi-stage process with which previously non-recyclable materials can be converted to high-quality raw material. In this way, activated carbon can be recovered, reprocessed and reused, both from filter production cuttings as well as used cabin air filters. In the first step, MANN-FILTER is exclusively using production residue from its own production.
Anton adds: “For the first time, our solution makes it possible to use recycled activated carbon in demanding filtration applications without compromising on performance, quality and lifetime. This opens up new uses for recycled raw materials and sets new standards in the industry.”
Series launch with more than 100 products
As of September, selected FreciousPlus cabin air filters will now be produced in series with a mixture of new and recycled activated carbon. In the first step, this affects more than 100 products for almost 250 million passenger cars, vans, buses and trucks on the European aftermarket. This corresponds to a coverage of around 4,800 vehicle applications and millions more vehicles are included worldwide.
MANN-FILTER will use approximately 30 tons of recycled activated carbon annually for the first wave of products. This saves around 240 tons of coconut shells and reduces the need for this natural raw material by around 20 percent.
Anton emphasizes that “it is important to us that more sustainable solutions really work in everyday workshop operations, bringing about tangible benefits. Thanks to the introduction to series products, there is no need to store additional parts and logistics processes also remain unchanged. At the same time, prices remain stable – which facilitates acceptance in a highly competitive market.”
Recycled activated carbon from our own production residue
The cuttings accrued during production of FreciousPlus cabin air filters contain valuable activated carbon, which can now be recovered, processed and reused as part of complex industrial recycling processes. The recycled activated carbon is then applied to the new FreciousPlus medium and replaces part of the conventional, new activated carbon.
Compared to new activated carbon, this saves emissions – both during production and transport from tropical cultivation areas to Central Europe, where the filters are produced. This reduces the CO₂ footprint of activated carbon by approx. 17 percent compared to new activated carbon. The calculated CO₂ savings were audited and confirmed externally by ClimatePartner.
Innovative power
The filtration expert has already filed a patent application with the German Patent and Trademark Office for the innovative FreciousPlus cabin air filter featuring recycled activated carbon. This forms part of the company’s numerous, annual patent applications, with a patent pool now comprising 4,800 patents.
Anton concludes by saying that “for us, sustainability is not a stand-alone project, but part of a continuous development. That’s why we are already working on further innovations.”
MANN-FILTER will be showcasing the new FreciousPlus cabin air filters with recycled activated carbon at Automechanika in Hall 3.0, Stand D55. As with lignin products, the packaging will also feature the green leaf pictogram indicating the more sustainable product solution. Workshops and wholesalers can find further information on sustainability on the MANN-FILTER website https://www.mann-filter.com.
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About MANN+HUMMEL
MANN+HUMMEL is a global leader in filtration technology. Headquartered in Ludwigsburg, Germany, the group develops intelligent filtration and separation technologies — as well as filter materials — for sectors including transportation and Life Sciences & Environment. Founded in 1941, this family-owned company provides solutions that contribute to clean transportation, clean air, clean water, and clean industrial processes worldwide. In this way, MANN+HUMMEL plays a crucial role in protecting the environment and ensuring the sustainable use of limited resources. In 2025, approximately 20,500 employees at more than 80 locations worldwide generated revenue of 4.2 billion euros.
For more information, please visit https://www.mann-hummel.com