One of the worlds leading automotive interior suppliers, Lear Corporation, will use kenaf, hemp, and jute to manufacture acrylic and polypropylene for interior applications including door panel trim, pillars, and trunk trim. The natural fiber acrylic is 70 percent plant matter, is 40 percent lighter than conventional substrates, and is recyclable. It’s enhanced elasticity means greater impact resistance and passenger safety.
The use of natural fibers in plastic composites is on the rise, mostly in the auto industry. Kline & Company, a market research firm, forecasts an annual 15 – 25 percent increase in demand for agricultural fibers and wood used in automotive applications, and an annual increase of 60 percent
in selected building products through 2004. They note that the market expansion is mostly driven by the fact that natural fibers cost 25 – 50 percent less than fiberglass.
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