Honda has been using the concept of life cycle assessment (LCA) in order to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions throughout the life cycle of the car including the production of the vehicle. Part of the LCA concept includes producing bio-fabrics to be used for the interiors of the cars in order to reduce C02 emissions.
Because plant materials are used to produce the bio-fabrics, the creation process using 10 to 15-percent less energy as compared to creating fabrics using a petroleum-based polyester material. The past criticisms of bio-fabric has been its durability, fading in sunlight and feel. Honda has addresses these three issues by producing very fine fibers woven into a multi-strand yarn that resists fading after prolonged use.
The bio-fabric can be used on seats, the interior surface of doors, roof and floor mats. Honda has a history of recycling as its Gresham, Oregon facility is filled with wallpaper from recycled phone books, floors from recycled tires and chairs made from recycled car bumpers.
Honda will be unveiling their bio-fabric in one of their hydrogen fuel cell cars at the JSAE Automotive Engineering Exposition in Japan. They intend to use these fabrics in the hydrogen cars they will be bringing to market within the next three years. So, if you happen to be at the JSAE exposition, why not plant yourself in one of the seats and see how it feels? Most likely, the other manufacturers are turning green with envy.
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