Lincoln Motor Company plans to debut a new fiberglass derived from trees on 2014 MKX models built next year.
Touted as lighter and more environmentally friendly, the Cellulose Reinforced Polypropylene is made with tree-harvested natural fibers instead of traditional glass-based fibers.
The renewable alternative to traditional fiberglass is the culmination of a three-year partnership between Lincoln Motor Company, sustainable solutions leader Weyerhaeuser and auto parts supplier Johnson Controls, said a press release.
The tree-based fiberglass alternative will be used in a structural piece located within the center console armrest. While the use of CRP is relatively small, the fiberglass alternate is a step forward as the company seeks more eco-friendly solutions.
The material could play a more significant role in the future, said Ellen Lee, plastics research technical expert for Ford Motor Company.
"If we transfer its use to larger parts, it could really benefit the vehicle weight, which benefits fuel economy," Lee said in the press release. "Cellulose has good reinforcement, so we looked at fiberglass-reinforced materials for this project."
Ford has used the fiberglass solution on prototype vehicles in the past, but the Lincoln vehicles built next year will mark the first time CRP is used in production.
Brand officials say the use of eco-friendly materials adds context to luxury vehicles.
"Today's Lincoln customer is someone who appreciates luxury but it has to have meaning in the larger picture," Dan Brady, Lincoln consumer marketing manager, said in the press release. "They want to be proud of their car for what it does for them but they also want a sustainability that provides something more. This customer is about an automotive brand that has stunning design as well as personal bonus such as an environmentally impactful element."
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