Plastic bottles turned into treasures from new Audi A3

Sohu car

Release time: 03-0216: 38

Recently, Audi released a preview of the new A3 seat. It is worth noting that the seat of the new car is made of recycled materials, which has caused a lot of discussion among netizens. With the increase of people's awareness of environmental protection, major car companies not only invest a lot of money in research and development of energy saving and emission reduction, but also make every effort to use renewable materials in the parts of the car to minimize environmental pollution. Today, I will bring you a brief look at recycled materials and see which car companies are using them.

Why use recycled materials?

A plastic bottle will degrade for 400-500 years. It is estimated that by 2050, the total amount of plastic waste in the world will exceed 12 million tons. At the same time, waste plastics will cause potential harm to the ecological environment. Mixing in soil will reduce crop yields, plasticizer seepage will cause groundwater pollution, and mixing with municipal waste and incineration will generate harmful gases. Therefore, due to the non-natural degradation of plastics, it has become the number one enemy of human beings.

According to the structural level and function of automotive interior trim parts, it can be divided into surface trim materials, cushioning materials and interior trim framework materials. These parts are mainly composed of PP, PU, PE, PA, ABS, PVC and other plastics. These materials can cause pollution to varying degrees during production, recycling, and processing. In the face of environmental pressure and fulfilling social responsibilities, major auto companies are currently trying to reduce the proportion of plastic products in cars or use recycled materials.

The energy and carbon dioxide balance of recycled materials is better than corresponding artificial fibers. The weight of decorative panels and other components inside the doors of recycled materials can also be reduced, which can save fuel during the life cycle of the car, further reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions .

Major car companies have begun action

In addition, the carpet of the new Audi A3 is made of 62 PET plastic bottles. In terms of appearance and texture, the same quality standards as traditional textile interiors can be achieved. In addition, other internal components are increasingly made of auxiliary materials, such as insulation materials, trunk side trim panels, and trunk cushions.

Specifically, the center console is made of recycled fiber and plastic from discarded fishing nets and marine cables, carpets contain fibers made from PET plastic bottles, and renewable blended cotton materials from clothing manufacturer scraps, and seats are also made from PET fiber in plastic bottles.

It is worth mentioning that this material has a very outstanding performance in temperature and color. It is an ideal renewable material solution for the design of the center control and exterior of the new generation Jaguar Land Rover. In addition, Jaguar Land Rover is actively increasing the proportion of renewable materials in its products, removing disposable plastics from its business, and avoiding excessive waste in the production process.

Ford staff said that because the recycled plastic is light, it is an ideal material for manufacturing chassis armor, engine shields, and front and rear wheel arch linings. It also improves the aerodynamics of the vehicle, and the better aerodynamics Improved fuel efficiency. In addition, such shields help create a quieter environment on the new 2020 Ford Escape.

In China, seat fabrics for some models, including Mondeo, Forex and Ruijie, all use this environmentally friendly material. To date, thanks to the use of this seat fabric, Ford has helped reduce the number of landfills by nearly 25 million.

The reasons behind car companies' enthusiasm for energy conservation and environmental protection

According to statistics, more than 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year, and 50% of it is used only once. The reuse of recyclable plastic is imminent. The value of plastic recycling is extremely high. After the concept of recycling is deepened, the process of converting plastic waste into new materials will also accelerate, which will play a vital role in reducing plastic pollution.

Of course, companies use recycled materials as raw materials. In addition to the reasons for actively taking social responsibility, they also have deep technical drivers and economic drivers. In the process of recycling materials from recycled materials, car companies themselves have also supported various black technologies. From the material procurement and production process to the use and recycling of products, they have created a full value chain that is green and environmentally friendly, saving resources and reducing energy consumption. , Cost savings, technology upgrades, branding and other purposes.

Full text summary: Through the above introduction, we see that many car companies are already using actual actions to ensure that cars are as light and healthy as possible in the direction of environmental protection while ensuring quality. At present, the need to improve the sustainability and resource efficiency of materials is no longer ideal, but has become a top priority for the automotive industry.