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Miko's Dinamica helping OEMs meet environment goals

04 Nov '20

2 min read

Pic: Asahi Kasei/Dinamica

With strong environmental regulations challenging the automotive industry, Dinamica, a sustainable and recyclable premium microfibre suede produced by Miko, has emerged as a source of comfort and luxury, helping the automotive OEMs to achieve environmental goals. The material has been used to cover the interior of well-recognised recent car models.

Miko is an Italian subsidiary of US-based Sage Automotive Interiors (member of the Asahi Kasei Group). A pioneer in sustainability, Miko is one of the pioneering Italian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of sustainability. In 1997, together with Asahi Kasei, it patented the Dinamica raw material made from recycled plastic.

The automotive interior is becoming a decisive factor in the car user’s buying decision. A survey conducted by Asahi Kasei Europe in October 2019 revealed that the end user’s need towards surface materials that are premium and yet sustainable is rapidly growing. Fifty-seven per cent of the respondents felt that sustainable materials for seat covers and surfaces would become increasingly important in the next five to ten years, while the need for real leather equipment would fall drastically.

Dinamica is produced using an innovative water-based manufacturing process in which no harmful chemical solvents are used. The process compacts the fibres, making them elastic and resistant. The use of neutral, non-toxic dyes and recycled polyester endures the natural approach.

The material has been used to mostly cover automotive seats and headrests, headliners, door panels and steering wheels. The recycled polyester contained in the microfibre derives from polyester fibres (T-shirts, fibres, etc.) and PET-Plastic (bottles, packaging materials, etc). Recycling polyester means a reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 80 per cent compared to the traditional petrol-based polyester production process.

Being a pioneer in sustainability for more than two decades, Dinamica has been used to cover the interior of well-recognised car models by global OEMs like the Mercedes-Benz AVTR concept car, the Volkswagen ID.3 or the new Audi Q2. Recent projects developed with Dinamica interiors include the Taycan, the Seite 2 von 2 first full-electric car by Porsche, the new Corvette C8 Stingray, and the new Jeep Grand Wagoneer.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SV)