An ecological microfibre that goes by the name of Dinamica is changing the ideas of global automotive OEMS about what a luxury material can be.
Dinamica is produced by Miko, an Italian subsidiary of US-based Sage Automotive Interiors and a member of the Asahi Kasei Group. Sustainable and recyclable, the material is claimed to offer ‘comfort and luxury’ and has already been adopted by a number of global OEMs in the interiors of various of the models, such as the Mercedes-Benz AVTR concept car, the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Audi Q2. Other recent projects include the Taycan, Porsche’s first full-electric car, the new Corvette C8 Sting-ray, and the new Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
Automotive OEMs are facing tightening environmental regulations combined with demand for more sustainability from their customers.
A survey conducted by Asahi Kasei Europe in October 2019 showed that end users increasingly want premium surface materials in the interiors of their cars that also sustainable. Some 57% of the respondents in that survey indicated that using sustainable materials for seat covers and surfaces will be become increasingly important in the next five to ten years, while real leather applications will fall drastically. The automotive interior is becoming a decisive factor in the car user’s buying decision.
Dinamica is mainly used as material for seat coverings, headrests, headliners, door panels or steering wheels. Recycled from polyester fibres derived from T-shirts and fibres, and from PET-plastic, its production represents a reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 80% compared to the conventional fossil-based polyester production process.
In addition, Dinamica is produced using an innovative water-based manufacturing process, in which no harmful chemical solvents are used. During the process, the fibres are compacted, becoming elastic and resistant, after which neutral, non-toxic dyes to colour the material.
Miko, an Italian SME long active in the field of suitainability, patented its Dinamic material together with Asahi Kasei in 1997. The material has since earned a slew of quality and environmental certification