Mazda recycles wood to make plastic

• Project to use waste plant materials
• Made into ethanol and then plastic
• Aims to make production parts from 2013

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Mazda hopes to recycle waste materials for use in its cars from 2013.

It hopes to use waste wood and other plant materials to develop a material strong enough to be used in vehicle bumpers and dashboards.

Waste plant material, such as wood shavings, can be turned into ethanol which will then be converted into ethylene and polypropylene.

Mazda claims this process is carbon neutral and, unlike alternative materials made from soy or cornstarch, does not remove food resources.