𝐒𝐏𝐄 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝

SPE's Automotive Innovation Awards named three Sustainability finalists: a #lampremanufacturing process, a #biocircularseatfoam, and a carbon-capture #polyacetal resin for OEM vehicles.



The Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) has named three finalists in the Sustainability category of its annual Automotive Innovation Awards Program, with nominees touting technologies adopted in the vehicle exterior, interior, and engine bay.

Winners will be announced during the 55th #SPEAutomotiveInnovationAwards Gala on the evening of November 4, 2026, at the Laurel Manor in Livonia, Michigan.


𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

First up, and presented as the first scalable automotive lighting remanufacturing process, system supplier Llink Technologies' patented method recovers up to 95% of components from damaged sealed lamps found in 2016 model year General Motors Chevrolet Silverado vehicles. Each lamp is tested, then reflectors, bezels, wiring, control modules, LEDs, and other components are harvested and assembled into new lenses and housings.


A single universal hot-melt PUR adhesive from H.B. Fuller (Rapidex NP 2075 T) meets every OEM requirement, and flexible equipment adapts to any make, model, or lighting technology. Finished lamps meet OEM and FMVSS 108 requirements and carry an OEM warranty at about 40% below the price of new. Each lamp diverts 9.4 lb. from landfill and saves about 5 kg CO₂e. The process now supports 36 GM part numbers.


𝐁𝐢𝐨-𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐚𝐦

Considered the first automotive seat foam with this level of sustainable content, the 2027 Rivian R2's molded flexible polyurethane foam contains about 24% bio-circular biomass via Specflex REN Polyol, supplied by Dow Chemical.


Dow's mass-balanced Specflex REN polyol draws on used cooking oil, lowering the polyol's global warming potential by about 40% versus virgin material. The foam's cell structure matches virgin foam, and it meets all impact, hardness, and perceived-quality requirements with no odor issues. It runs on system supplier and material converter Adient's standard line with no separate tankage, facilities, or process changes, and cost is reduced by approximately 10%. The bio-based seat foam anchors Rivian's broader push to embed sustainable polymers in every application, including engineered thermoplastics.


𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧-𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥

Finally, in the first known automotive application of carbon-captured polyacetal (POM), the 2026 model Toyota Tundra's fuel pump module subcomponents now use Celanese's Celcon ECO-C M90. Carbon dioxide captured from industrial emissions is combined with hydrogen to make methanol — the primary POM feedstock — thereby cutting the material's production CO₂ by 90%.


source : Plastics Today

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