Biomaterials boost sustainability

New car models will feature ever greater numbers of biologically based plastic components, but increased use of renewably sourced parts faces unique challenges.

A couple of years ago, the biggest question for green-minded shoppers on a supermarket checkout line was whether to ask the cashier for “paper or plastic” shopping bags. Nowadays, some customers bring their own reusable carry-bags to shrink their environmental footprint even more. Similarly, even though comparatively few prospective car buyers today ask showroom sales reps whether new models contain environmentally sustainable biomaterials, it is probably only a matter of time before more auto shoppers do so, if current trends hold true.

It should be no surprise then that many automakers have worked in recent years to begin to replace conventional plastic car parts with comparable components fabricated from plant-derived polymer compounds and natural-fiber reinforcements. Petroleum-based plastic components, after all, make up one-fifth of the average car by weight. But given the industry's long product-cycle lead times and the stringent demands automotive applications make on materials, progress so far has been moderate.