Munich. The BMW Group plans to launch its first
vehicles featuring completely vegan interiors in 2023. This is being
made possible primarily through the development of innovative
materials with leather-like properties. It will also be possible to
use these materials for steering wheel surfaces, which must fulfil
demanding criteria when it comes to feel, premium appearance and wear
resistance. Fully vegan interiors will be available for both BMW and
MINI models for the first time from 2023. The BMW Group is thus
serving the demand for vegan and leather-free interiors, which is set
to increase further in the near future, especially in the US, China
and Europe.
The reduction of CO2 emissions over the entire life cycle
of a vehicle is the central goal of the BMW Group on the road to
climate neutrality, which is to be achieved by 2050 at the latest.
Material selection has a key role to play in achieving this goal.
Replacing raw materials of animal origin makes a significant
contribution to increasing sustainability in vehicle production. The
introduction of a new surface material for steering wheels will see
the proportion of vehicle components that contain traces of raw
materials of animal origin fall to less than one percent in the
respective BMW and MINI vehicles. As a result, these materials will
now only be found in areas that are not visible to the customer, for
example in various waxy substances such as gelatine used in protective
coatings, lanolin in paints, tallow as an additive in elastomers and
beeswax as a flux for paints.
The BMW Group has for a long time been offering various fabric
alternatives to leather. Now, for the first time, it is possible to
offer a suitable substitute for leather for the most important
interface between driver and vehicle. The steering wheel surfaces must
fulfil demanding criteria when it comes to appearance, wear resistance
and durability. “With a steering wheel made from a high-quality vegan
surface material, we are fulfilling the wishes of our customers who do
not want to make any compromises in terms of look, feel and
functionality. The innovative material withstands wear and tear caused
by abrasion, perspiration and moisture and has all the desirable
properties of leather,” says Uwe Köhler, Head of Development Body,
Exterior Trim, Interior at the BMW Group. The only distinguishing
feature of the new material will be a new grain effect on the steering
wheel rim.
Leather-free surfaces reduce CO2e emissions by 85
percent.
The fact that there is now a high-quality vegan
surface material with equivalent properties to the real leather
previously used in the production of steering wheels represents
another major step towards CO2 reduction. The new steering
wheel surface material reduces CO2e emissions along the
value chain by around 85 percent compared to leather. Up to now, most
of the emissions produced, around 80 percent, were in the form of
methane gas from cattle rearing. The remaining 20 percent was
accounted for by processing of the cowhide, which is highly energy-
and water-intensive.
Climate neutrality and a circular economy are the top
priorities.
To achieve the goal of climate neutrality,
the BMW Group is relying on the use of green electricity in production
and in the supply chain, a consistently increased proportion of
secondary materials and natural raw materials, highly efficient
electric motors and combustion engines and a high recycling rate in
line with the principles of a circular economy.
It’s all in the detail: The floor mats for various models are made
from mono-material, thus avoiding material mixes that are difficult to
recycle. As a result, the BMW Group saves around 23,000 tonnes of
CO2 and an additional 1,600 tonnes of waste every year,
since the recycled floor mats and waste material are also reused
within the production process.
Research and development in the field of secondary raw materials and
sustainable materials are a top priority. Future vehicle generations
will offer other attractive alternatives to leather. The BMW Group is
working with start-up companies to develop innovative bio-based
materials. Compared to the synthetic leathers previously used, these
result in around 45 percent lower CO2 emissions.
MirumTM, which is 100 percent bio-based and petroleum-free,
has the potential to mimic all the properties of traditional leather.
Another new material, DeserttexTM, is made from pulverised
cactus fibres with a bio-based polyurethane matrix. With these
materials, replacing raw materials of animal origin can be combined
with a significant reduction in CO2.