xcel
12-18-2008, 11:22 PM
A continuous improvement process at work. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=175086)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Plant_Plastics.jpgWayne Gerdes – CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) – Dec. 18, 2008
Reducing carbon output through plant use is becoming more common in Toyota automobile interiors.
Tokyo -- Toyota announced plans to increase use of plant-derived, carbon-neutral* plastics in more vehicle models, including a new hybrid vehicle (assume the 2010 Prius-III :)) starting early next year. The Toyota developed plastics, known as “Ecological Plastic”, are to be used in scuff plates, headliners and seat cushions to name a few of the interior parts where it is presently used. During the 2009 model year, Toyota is aiming for Ecological Plastic to account for up to 60 percent of the interior components in vehicles that feature it. Not all vehicles but those that actually “feature it.”
There are basically two types of Ecological Plastic. Those produced completely from plant-derived base materials and that produced from a combination of plant- and
petroleum-derived base material. Because plants play a role in either type, Ecological
Plastic emits less CO2 during a product’s lifecycle (from manufacture to disposal) than plastic made solely from petroleum; it also helps reduce petroleum use.
Ecological Plastic currently meets the heat-resistance and shock-resistance demands of vehicle interiors through the use of various compounding technologies, such as those allowing molecular-level bonding and homogeneous mixing of plant-derived and petroleum-derived raw materials.
Given all Toyota vehicles are designed, engineered and manufactured under a Carbon constraint budget before the first concept is built, Ecological Plastics help vehicle product managers meet the vehicles CO2 emissions goals while helping the environment at the same time.
Toyota was the first automaker to use a 100-percent plant-based plastic in a production vehicle when it launched the Japanese-market “Raum” in May 2003.
Ecological Plastic Application and Materials Used
Interior vehicle parts using Combined raw materials Ecological Plastic|Where used|Plant-derived raw materials|Petroleum-derived raw materials
Scuff plates, cowl side trim, floor finish plate, toolbox|Throughout|Polylactic acid|Polypropylene
Headliner, sun visors, pillar covers|Covering (fibrous portion)|Plant-derived polyester|Polyethylene terephthalate
Trunk liner|Covering (fibrous portion)|Polylactic acid|Polyethylene terephthalate
Door trim|Base material|Kenaf * fiber and Polylactic acid|(Not used)
Seat cushion|Foam portion|Polyol derived from castor oil *|Polyol, isocyanate (cross-linking agent)
*Non-food source -- Data Source, Toyota
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Plant_Plastics.jpgWayne Gerdes – CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) – Dec. 18, 2008
Reducing carbon output through plant use is becoming more common in Toyota automobile interiors.
Tokyo -- Toyota announced plans to increase use of plant-derived, carbon-neutral* plastics in more vehicle models, including a new hybrid vehicle (assume the 2010 Prius-III :)) starting early next year. The Toyota developed plastics, known as “Ecological Plastic”, are to be used in scuff plates, headliners and seat cushions to name a few of the interior parts where it is presently used. During the 2009 model year, Toyota is aiming for Ecological Plastic to account for up to 60 percent of the interior components in vehicles that feature it. Not all vehicles but those that actually “feature it.”
There are basically two types of Ecological Plastic. Those produced completely from plant-derived base materials and that produced from a combination of plant- and
petroleum-derived base material. Because plants play a role in either type, Ecological
Plastic emits less CO2 during a product’s lifecycle (from manufacture to disposal) than plastic made solely from petroleum; it also helps reduce petroleum use.
Ecological Plastic currently meets the heat-resistance and shock-resistance demands of vehicle interiors through the use of various compounding technologies, such as those allowing molecular-level bonding and homogeneous mixing of plant-derived and petroleum-derived raw materials.
Given all Toyota vehicles are designed, engineered and manufactured under a Carbon constraint budget before the first concept is built, Ecological Plastics help vehicle product managers meet the vehicles CO2 emissions goals while helping the environment at the same time.
Toyota was the first automaker to use a 100-percent plant-based plastic in a production vehicle when it launched the Japanese-market “Raum” in May 2003.
Ecological Plastic Application and Materials Used
Interior vehicle parts using Combined raw materials Ecological Plastic|Where used|Plant-derived raw materials|Petroleum-derived raw materials
Scuff plates, cowl side trim, floor finish plate, toolbox|Throughout|Polylactic acid|Polypropylene
Headliner, sun visors, pillar covers|Covering (fibrous portion)|Plant-derived polyester|Polyethylene terephthalate
Trunk liner|Covering (fibrous portion)|Polylactic acid|Polyethylene terephthalate
Door trim|Base material|Kenaf * fiber and Polylactic acid|(Not used)
Seat cushion|Foam portion|Polyol derived from castor oil *|Polyol, isocyanate (cross-linking agent)
*Non-food source -- Data Source, Toyota