The manufacturer has teamed up with EIDAIKAKO Company, MRC Pylen Company and Toyota Tsusho Corporation to develop a new floor mat made using plant-based bio-polyethylene fibre. Production of the floor mats is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2012.

Bio-polyethylene is a plant-based resin that uses sugarcane molasses. Compared to conventional petroleum based floor mats, the fibre in the new floor mat has a core-sheath structure with the core covered with conventional petrol-based polypropylene sheath. This helps it to meet high levels of performance, particularly related to abrasion and heat resistance.

According to in-house calculations, the fibre floor mat achieves a 15 per cent reduction in lifecycle CO2 emissions compared to a similar mat using petrol based PP fibre.

Now Mitsubishi is conducting research and development on a series of plant-based Green Plastics with the aim of replacing petrol based plastics.

Further information:
Mitsubishi