Rice, eggshells And Lentils Are Recipe For Future Sustainable Car Interiors

It may sound like a tasty meal, but the combination of eggs, walnuts, rice, lentils, and coffee could just as easily be found in the interior of your next car. According to a new study by Callum, a design and engineering consultancy founded by famed Aston Martin and Jaguar designer Ian Callum, designers and engineers are now looking beyond the sustainable materials that are already being considered to identify new options.

Mercedes-Benz recently filled the interior of its new all-electric concept car, the Vision EQXX, with such materials, which has been heavily promoted by global automakers. The EQXX's door handle is made of bio-steel fibre, which is stronger than steel and biodegradable, and artificial leather derived from mushrooms and cactus is used for the seat.

Using a retrofitted Porsche 911 interior as a starting point, Callum identified coffee pulp, eggshells, red lentils, walnuts, and rice as potential materials for car interiors in 2030. Callum worked with green-tech firm Ottan to identify the best materials capable of replacing plastics while still meeting a car's stringent design, environmental, and engineering requirements. Eggshells mixed with resin produced a smooth, opaque material with either a glossy or matt surface that met temperature and wear specifications.

Trim surround for window switches is one example of an application. By combining walnut shells with eggshells, Ottan's recycled content rises to 84% from 78%. Outdated rice or lentils can be converted into a smooth translucent material that engineers claim is well-suited to illuminated areas of a car such as lamp covers or illuminated switches. Coffee pulp could be used as a flame-resistant alternative to traditional plastics for glossy, decorative trim such as dashboard inserts.

Callum also chose purple carrot pulp for its mulberry-like colour for trim parts. Tree leaves can be recycled into a dark, smooth surface that provides a natural alternative to wood veneers for the centre console or dashboard.