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(Villeurbanne, France), Forvia’s sustainable materials subsidiary, unveils NAFILean Vision, a recyclable biocomposite made from recycled plastics reinforced with 20% hemp fibers. Building on the success of NAFILean-R, the material meets stringent automotive performance standards and enhances aesthetic quality by making biomass visible.

“NAFILean Vision takes the high performance of NAFILean-R to a new level with advanced decorative effects. It provides an appealing and ready-to-use solution that combines mechanical strength with aesthetic excellence,” says Elise Moreau, president of Materi’act.

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NAFILean Vision blends low-carbon recycled plastics from post-consumer sources with renewable biomass, such as hemp, wood, reed, vine shoots and even oyster shells, which help sequester CO₂. The biocomposite’s aim is to maximize plastics decarbonization, introducing them to visible automotive parts.

According to Materi’act, the variety of biomass fillers enables the creation of a wide range of visible sustainable materials, with rich aspects that reflect their nature and origin in a wide variety of colors, grains, depth and high perceived quality textures. Unlike traditional materials that might require additional processing, NAFILean Vision can be used in a one-shot injection process, eliminating the need for postprocessing, like deco painting or film, leading to additional CO₂ emission and cost reductions. It incorporates up to 25% biomass and can be combined with specially developed coloring technologies to meet the color material and finish (CMF) requirements of automotive OEMs. Life cycle assessments demonstrate a reduction in carbon footprint by up to 75%.

NAFILean Vision has already been showcased in a concept car featuring Materi’act’s ocean-bound recycled plastics variation. The material used included a blend of 10% renewable oyster shell particles and 20% recycled plastics, collected by Materi’act ecosystem partner Plastic Odyssey. 

The brand’s visible version of the NAFILean biocomposite is now available. Beyond sustainability benefits, it is reported to offer enhanced creative flexibility and streamlined development processes with tools like 3D digital surfaces and comprehensive design and process guidelines. Ultimately, the material aligns with current design trends and enables innovative, environmentally conscious automotive interior designs.