New seat material friendlier to the environment

Mazda has developed a plant-derived fibre which has the necessary properties to make it in the highly abrasive, inflammatory and emaciating world of car interior design.

Traditional interior trim production is heavily reliant on the petroleum industry for raw materials. Even wool and leather have to be treated with petroleum-based chemicals to remain colour-fast and durable over a long period.

Named 'biofabric', the new material has been developed through a cooperative venture between Mazda and Teijin Fibers Limited. In developing the new fibre, the technology had to be sensitive to the needs of food production.

Effectively, the biofabric is a synthetic material -- a plastic -- created from an organic material, polylactic acid. This combines large numbers of lactic acid molecules from fermented carbohydrates -- plant sugars, in other words.

That sounds like some stages shared with the process of ethanol production, which, as Honda has proven with their 100 per cent ethanol fuel regime in Indy Cars (more here), can be achieved without using the edible parts of a plant.

Teijin invented the base material, but Mazda's involvement extended to developing an eco-friendly surface treatment to make the biofabric flame-retardant.

Seita Kanai, Mazda’s director and senior executive officer in charge of R&D, applauded the new material, saying "We are convinced that our new technology, which enables the manufacture of this material without any oil-based resources, will become a cornerstone for future biotechnologies aimed at reducing the burden on the environment."

The first viewing of the new seat cover material will be in the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid concept, due to go on display at the Tokyo Motor Show in October.

This car will also introduce a new 'bioplastic' material for the instrument panel and other interior fixtures.

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