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ISSUE 14 | SEPTEMBER 2022
Sustainability on the Horizon
Industry News & Trends Full Circularity
The World Economic Forum defines the term “circular car” as a “theoretical vehicle that has maximized materials efficiency.” Although the ideal circular car might never be fully achieved, many manufacturers are working towards creating a circular economy for automotive manufacturing materials. A vehicle like this would produce no material waste or pollution during manufacture, utilization, and disposal.
bottles. In the GT, the carpet and floor mats are made from recycled nylon fibers from fishing nets, and the wheels are assembled with low-CO2 emissions aluminum.
Last September, Automotive News reported on BMW’s i Vision Circular concept, a car almost entirely made of recycled materials. “The concept’s design is optimized to use materials that have already completed a product life cycle alongside organic raw materials. Its solid-state battery is fully recyclable.”
BMW uses recycled plastics in parts like door panels, seats, center consoles, and floors and FSC-certified wood in their iX SUV.
Volvo has committed to going leather-free by 2030, and they will instead use their Nordico material made from PET bottles, recycled cork, and materials from sustainable forests.
In their August 1 edition, Automotive News predicted that the circular car could be a reality. Citing the Karma produced by Fisker Automotive that featured wood trim made from salvaged material from the bottom of Lake Michigan, “The auto industry has dabbled in recycled materials in the past.” Nowadays, consumers expect recycled materials in most products, including vehicles. Automotive News even labels recycled materials as “critical ingredients in auto composition as vehicle producers and suppliers attempt to reduce their environmental footprint.” While we wait to see if the circular car ever becomes a reality, we can watch auto manufacturers’ sustainable innovations today. ABC News compiled a few sustainable innovations seen in the automotive industry. Ford’s journey into sustainable materials includes replacing seat cushion foam with cushions made from soy and wiring harness clips made from reclaimed nylon fishing nets. Audi’s goal of becoming net CO2 neutral by 2050 is a driving force in their material innovations. The seat material and carpet in the A3 are made partly from recycled PET
FUN Industry FACT Nearly 900 million
oil changes are performed each year.
Source: Wrench