Toyota Prius hybrid chooses Ingeo fibre

2 September 2009, Tokyo - A special floor mat available for the fully remodelled third-generation Toyota Prius uses an advanced Ingeo based fibre. Known as the world’s most eco-conscious car, Toyota Prius features world leading fuel consumption (38km/L), a solar powered ventilation system, and environmentally friendly plant-derived plastics for seat cushion foam, cowl side trim, inner and outer scuff plates, and deck trim cover. Now, the new Prius adds to these bio based materials by offering optional floor mats (deluxe type) using NatureWorks’ advanced Ingeo fibre system.

According to NatureWorks, as a result of reducing the use of fossil resource as much as possible in its manufacturing process from feedstock to factory shipment, Ingeo reduces the fossil fuel use by 65% and cuts by 90% the CO2 emission when compared to the petroleum-derived nylon resin used in traditional floor mats. The company says that by adopting the Ingeo mat products, Toyota benefits from the unique environmental advantages of a fibre made from plants, not oil. This adoption of new floor mats exemplifies Toyota’s belief that the use of environmentally friendly materials is as equally important as design and product performance.

 “We have long looked at Japan as an ‘innovation engine’ for our Ingeo business,” said Marc Verbruggen, NatureWorks CEO. “With Toyota’s latest development, we recognize their achievement in leading the automotive industry’s efforts with excellence in bio based product performance and innovation”. NatureWorks in Japan supplied Ingeo to Toyota Tsusho Corporation, who developed the new environmentally friendly floor mats.

About NatureWorks

Dedicated to meeting the world’s needs today without compromising the earth’s ability to meet the needs of tomorrow, NatureWorks LLC is the first company to offer a family of commercially available low carbon footprint polymers derived from 100 percent annually renewable resources with cost and performance that compete with oil-based plastics and fibres. The production of these biopolymers uses less fossil fuel and emits fewer green-house gases than conventional polymers.

The company applies its proprietary technology to process natural plant sugars to make Ingeo biopolymer, which is then used uniquely to make and market finished products under the Ingeo brand name