There's a quiet green revolution going on. While automakers have been talking up a future filled with biodiesel, hydrogen fuel cells and even ethanol, they've been very quietly integrating parts made from biobased materials into their present-day cars and trucks.These environmentally friendly car parts are made from coconut, corn, flax, hemp, jute, sisal, soybeans and other plant-based materials (and occasionally from animal-based materials, like wool). They're showing up in entry-level economy cars and high-end luxury automobiles, in this country and abroad.

Considering the heavy emphasis on green cars these days, we have to wonder why automakers aren't making a big deal about their use of biobased materials. Do these components figure into the companies' strategic plans for a greener future? And exactly what benefits do we — and the automakers — receive from these earth-friendly parts and pieces?

Who's Making Plants Into Parts?

The variety of biobased automotive parts currently in production is stunning. DaimlerChrysler has been the biggest proponent of these materials, and today, up to 50 components in Mercedes-Benz A-, C-, E- and S-Class models are biobased — though not necessarily in vehicles sold in the United States.

Flax, hemp and sisal are processed into door cladding, seatback linings and package shelves (the space behind the rear seats of sedans). Coconut fiber and caoutchouc (a source of latex) are used to make seat bottoms, back cushions and head restraints. Abaca (a cousin of the banana tree) is used in under-floor body panels. And the company expects suppliers to be able to produce flexible tubing for fuel and brake systems made with castor oil soon.

Other manufacturers have been putting natural ingredients into their cars as well:
The BMW Group incorporates a considerable amount of renewable raw materials into its vehicles, including 10,000 tons of natural fibers in 2004. Each BMW 7 Series car boasts 24 kilograms of renewable raw materials, with flax and sisal in the interior door linings and panels, cotton in the soundproofing, wool in the upholstery and wood fiber in the seatback cushions.
Toyota has shown interest in using kenaf. This grass, which is related to okra, has been used to make Lexus package shelves, and it's also incorporated into the body structure of Toyota's i-foot and i-unit concept vehicles.
At General Motors, a kenaf and flax mixture has gone into package trays and door panel inserts for Saturn L300s and European-market Opel Vectras, while wood fiber is being used in seatbacks for the Cadillac DeVille and in the cargo area floor of the GMC Envoy and Chevrolet TrailBlazer.
Honda is using wood fiber in the cargo area floor for the Pilot SUV.
Ford mounts Goodyear tires that are made with corn on its fuel-sipping Fiestas in Europe. The sliding door inserts for the Ford Freestar are made with wood fiber.