I. Recycled Plastic Bottle Materials
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Applications of PET Plastic Bottles
- Seat Fabrics: Many automakers have begun using recycled PET plastic bottles to produce seat fabrics. For example, approximately 70% of the seat fabric material in the ŠKODA ENYAQ iV is derived from PET plastic bottles. These materials are recycled into yarn and blended with natural wool to create the seat fabric.
- Interior Components: Yarn from recycled PET bottles is also used for interior components such as cabin ceiling liners, effectively utilizing recycled materials and reducing waste emissions.
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Advantages
- Environmental Benefits: Significantly reduces the landfill and incineration of plastic bottle waste, lowering environmental pollution.
- Economic Benefits: Use of recycled materials reduces raw material costs and improves resource efficiency.
II. Bio-Based Materials
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Bio-Leather
- Features: Made from fibers extracted from eucalyptus leaves or bio-based polyurethane containing corn starch, bio-leather offers a luxurious feel comparable to traditional leather while being eco-friendly. These bio-based plastics generate minimal volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, are 10% lighter than conventional plastics, and are scratch-resistant.
- Applications: Bio-leather seats have become a premium feature in luxury and mid-sized vehicles, replacing natural leather seats.
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Bio-Foam
- Features: Produced from soybean oil, bio-foam is eco-friendly and biodegradable.
- Applications: Used in interior components such as seat cushions and ceiling upholstery.
III. Other Recycled Materials
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Sugarcane Waste
- Applications: Bio-plastics derived from sugarcane waste are being used in interior components like dashboards, improving resource utilization.
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Discarded Fishing Nets
- Applications: Fibers from recycled fishing nets are repurposed to create interior components such as car floor mats, enabling the reuse of marine waste.
IV. Next-Generation Post-Consumer Materials (PCM) Plastics
- Features: Recycled from discarded plastics, PCM plastics are fully recyclable.
- Applications: Used in interior components like door trim panels to increase the recycled content of automotive interiors.
V. Eco-Friendly Coatings and Adhesives
- BTX-Free Coatings: Applied to interior components frequently touched by drivers and passengers (e.g., window switch panels) to reduce harmful emissions.
- Water-Based Adhesives: Minimize VOC emissions in interior components, enhancing cabin air quality.
VI. Integrated Application Case
- SAIC Volkswagen ŠKODA: ŠKODA continues to increase the use of recycled materials in its vehicles. Nearly one-third of the materials in the ŠKODA Octavia are recycled. The company is committed to sustainable material processing and employs various recycled materials and innovative technologies in its interiors.
