Moving Toward Sustainable Plastics 2006/7 Report Card of Leading Automakers A Report by the Ecology Center

摘要

Plastics use in automobiles is large and growing. Today, nearly 50% of vehicle interior components are made of polymers. In many cases these plastics have chemical additives that are toxic and off-gas to contaminate the air and dust inside vehicles. Also of concern, these materials are added to the waste stream and incinerated or landfilled at the end of vehicle life, causing contamination of land and air. With vehicle sales and plastics usage both on the rise, the use of sustainable plastics that are healthy and safe for vehicle occupants, and provide reusable feed stocks at the end of their useful life is of increasing importance. In this report we have provided a comprehensive review of automaker activities relating to sustainable plastics. We have found that there is a heightened effort within the auto industry to use bio-based materials in vehicles. We have also found that some manufacturers have made significant strides in phasing out problematic plastics, such as PVC, and switching to more recyclable materials that have fewer toxic chemical additives. While there is progress in the industry, some automakers are falling far short of their competitors. And, even the leading automakers can still do more to increase the sustainability of materials in their vehicles.