Renault will be using a new fabric for its car seats made of 100 percent recycled material. The patented fabric, which will be used in the Zoe electric car, is made out of recycled seatbelts, textile straps and plastic bottles.
A total of eight square metres of the Zoe’s cabin will be covered by the material. This includes the dashboard, gear lever surround and door fittings.
The covering has been tested for the rigours of daily driving, including wear-resistance, ability to be cleaned and resisting sun damage.
CO2 emissions from manufacturing are reduced by more than 60 percent in comparison with conventional materials. The production process doesn’t use thermal transformation, which is very CO2-intensive.
“Faced with the challenge of the energy transition, industries have an essential role to play in changing their production methods and reducing their environmental impact,” said Jean-Philippe Hermine, director of environmental strategy at Renault.
“This approach contributes to the Group’s commitment to reduce the environmental impacts of each vehicle throughout its life cycle and to reduce its global carbon footprint by -25% in 2022 compared to 2010.”
