The seats of the Audi Skysphere Concept are made of sustainably produced microfiber fabric, environmentally certified eucalyptus and faux leather.
The carpets of the Volvo C40 Recharge EV are made from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles.
The harness clips in the Ford SUV Bronco Sport are made from recycled marine plastic and are just as durable as the oil-based clips.
Image credit: ABC website
◎ Intern reporter Zhang Jiaxin
There is a proverb in English called "what cause is planted, what effect is obtained." The plastic water bottles we discard now may become garbage that pollutes the environment, but on the other hand, if they can be reused, these water bottles may soon turn into treasure and become part of our next car.
Sustainability has become a favorite buzzword in the industry. Automakers are also racing to reuse uneconscionable materials for upholstery for cushions, foot pads, door panels and dashboards, first with recycled wood, then with "vegan" leather, and now plastic waste from the ocean, rice husks, flaxseeds and agaves are changing the manufacturing process.
Recently, the ABC published an article about the practices of several major automakers in using renewable materials to make cars.
Ford: Marine litter "transforms" into car parts
"Everyone is starting to wake up to the problem of plastic and waste." Deborah Milevsky, a researcher at sustainability technologies at American automaker Ford, said, "Two years ago, there was a lot of publicity about marine pollution, and we felt obligated to do something about it. ”
Ford, in particular, advocates the use of renewable materials in its vehicles. In 2008, the company replaced the petroleum-based polyol foam used in Mustang sports cars with cushions made from soybeans, an industry first. Recently, Milevsky and his team began researching how to convert a portion of the 13 million tons of marine plastic into parts for future Ford cars. These plastics threaten marine life and pollute coastlines. As a result, they used former nylon fishing nets to create the harness clips of the new Ford SUV Bronco Sport.
Royal Dutch DSM recycles nets from fishermen and supplies them to Ford. After sorting, washing and drying, the nets are cut into small particles and injected into harness clamps weighing approximately 5 grams and guide wires that power Bronco Sport's side curtain airbags.
Currently, Ford is testing the durability of recycled plastic on Bronco Sport's radomes, floor side rails and transmission brackets, Milevsky said.
Audi: Sustainable materials for a zero-carbon future
For German car manufacturer Audi, sustainable materials are the first step towards achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. Recycled PET bottles are ground into polyester yarn, which accounts for 89% of Audi's fourth-generation A3 car seat material. Pet bottles are also recycled for carpets on the Audi A3. The carpets and floor mats of the all-electric E-tron GT are made from Econyl, a recycled nylon fiber made from fishing nets. The E-tron GT's 20-inch wheels are also assembled from low-carbon aluminum.
In August, Audi presented the Skysphere electric sports car concept, featuring sustainably produced materials such as microfiber fabrics, environmentally certified eucalyptus and synthetic leather.
"Audi is committed to using sustainable materials, and we're making a difference in new car manufacturing," said Spencer Reid, Audi's director of government affairs, "and we have very high standards and a comprehensive review of these products." ”
However, Reid said Audi's priority is to expand its lineup of electric vehicles. By 2025, 30 percent of Audi cars in the U.S. will use full-battery electric or plug-in hybrids. The industry's current focus is on battery materials nickel, lithium, and magnesium, as well as the sustainable sourcing of these materials.
Volvo: Leather-free by 2030
Automaker Volvo says it's addressing all of its cars' sustainability issues, not just carbon emissions. The company says it will be leather-free by 2030 and uses a material it has developed called Nordico, which consists of textiles made from recycled materials such as PET bottles, bio-attribute materials from sustainable forests in Sweden and Finland, and cork stoppers recovered from the wine industry.
Reika Mina, Volvo's senior design manager for colours and materials, said Volvo has been "looking for technologies to reduce residues in livestock production, which are often used in the production of plastics, rubber, lubricants and adhesives, either as part of the material or as a process chemical in the production or processing of materials".
"In most of our major markets, consumer demand for more sustainable materials, particularly alternatives to leather, is on the rise due to concerns about animal welfare and the negative environmental impacts of the cattle industry, including deforestation." "We have the same concerns, so we chose to abandon the use of animal leather and instead focus on high-quality sustainable alternatives like Nordico to meet the needs of our customers," Mina said. ”
Jeffrey Hill, a professor at Columbia Business School in the United States, said automakers are doing this because they are feeling pressure from consumers and the government. But there are really factors in car manufacturing that stand in the way of making the world a better place. Hill said that while these changes are small steps, each small step will work.