Out with the oil, in with the new

Biomaterials begin making an impact as OEMs and suppliers explore more green options.

Environmental concerns and the rising price of oil are making this an exciting time for engineers in both the material science and automotive industries. In both disciplines, there's a race to avoid using petroleum.

Materials providers are pressing to eliminate petroleum-based materials, replacing them with materials from renewable sources. Though the auto industry has more demanding requirements than many other fields, it is an attractive market that is drawing efforts from many leading providers.