Grupo Antolin presents the first headliner substrate produced by thermoforming a PU foam with materials made from urban & post-consumer plastic waste and end of life tires. The aim is to reduce waste and energy consumption during manufacturing and to meet the demand for eco-friendly interiors.

The headliner part looks as a standard headliner and performs exactly the same (sustainability surge comes without any reduction in the physical properties of the headliner). This accomplishment has been possible thanks to a material’s manufacturing process developed by the partner BASF (by means of chemical recycling) that Antolin has validated and introduced in a fully electric European premium car that has just been launched to the market.

Grupo Antolin develops car headliner substrate made from plastic waste and used tires.

“This project is a step towards a more sustainable car interior trim and a huge leap for the Wet PU technology. A technology that has demonstrated to be the most competitive in terms of cost and quality, fulfilling at the same time the most demanding specifications from our clients,” said Enrique Fernandez, Advanced Engineering Director, Overhead Systems BU at Grupo Antolin.

Approximately 50% of the headliner weight is recycled. In this particular project, 100% of the textile, 70% of the core foam, and 70% of the plastic sunroof reinforcement frame have been obtained from residues that couldn’t be recycled in any other way and would have been, ultimately, disposed in landfills or, what is worse, in natural habitats, like oceans.

“We are going one step further by deploying the strategy among our clients worldwide. Our next project featuring recycled core PU foam will be unveiled in 2022 and it’ll be manufactured using renewable electricity. Our commitment is to reduce the generation of waste and emissions in all our production processes,” highlighted Javier Blanco, Grupo Antolin’s Sustainability Director.

These types of solutions are an example of the company's technological commitment to help its customers to develop more sustainable vehicles by reducing waste, weight and emissions.

Grupo Antolin presents the first headliner substrate produced by thermoforming a PU foam with materials made from urban & post-consumer plastic waste and end of life tires. The aim is to reduce waste and energy consumption during manufacturing and to meet the demand for eco-friendly interiors.

The headliner part looks as a standard headliner and performs exactly the same (sustainability surge comes without any reduction in the physical properties of the headliner). This accomplishment has been possible thanks to a material’s manufacturing process developed by the partner BASF (by means of chemical recycling) that Antolin has validated and introduced in a fully electric European premium car that has just been launched to the market.

Grupo Antolin develops car headliner substrate made from plastic waste and used tires.

“This project is a step towards a more sustainable car interior trim and a huge leap for the Wet PU technology. A technology that has demonstrated to be the most competitive in terms of cost and quality, fulfilling at the same time the most demanding specifications from our clients,” said Enrique Fernandez, Advanced Engineering Director, Overhead Systems BU at Grupo Antolin.

Approximately 50% of the headliner weight is recycled. In this particular project, 100% of the textile, 70% of the core foam, and 70% of the plastic sunroof reinforcement frame have been obtained from residues that couldn’t be recycled in any other way and would have been, ultimately, disposed in landfills or, what is worse, in natural habitats, like oceans.

“We are going one step further by deploying the strategy among our clients worldwide. Our next project featuring recycled core PU foam will be unveiled in 2022 and it’ll be manufactured using renewable electricity. Our commitment is to reduce the generation of waste and emissions in all our production processes,” highlighted Javier Blanco, Grupo Antolin’s Sustainability Director.

These types of solutions are an example of the company's technological commitment to help its customers to develop more sustainable vehicles by reducing waste, weight and emissions.