Tokyo, Japan — Chemical maker Toray Industries has begun mass production of its plant-and-petroleum fibers for use in automobiles. The fibers mix polylactic acid (which comes from plant sources) and plant-derived polyesters with petroleum-based materials.
Toray, which has developed bioplastics and plant-based materials for Toyota, Canon and other companies, expects to sell 200 tons of plant-based items like door trim and ceiling upholstery in their first year of mass production. Toray hopes to see sales grow to 5,000 tons a year by 2015.
The company has been supplying Toyota with plant-based materials, used most recently in the trunk and floor carpeting for the hybrid Lexus HS 250h. Toyota has also used bioplastic to make spare tire covers, floor mats and vehicle trim.
Toray uses a part-plant, part-petroleum mixture so that the parts meet the heat and physical wear requirements for automobile parts, but Toray says it will work on creating materials that have higher percentages of plant-based materials and still meet the requirements.
The company's past work with bioplastic includes computer cases for Fujitsu and multifunction office device parts for Canon. Toray has also worked with Patagonia on recycling nylon for its Common Threads clothing recycling program.
Toyota Prius interior - CC license by Hammer51012