5 Auto Giants Embracing Hemp For Sustainability, From Ford To BMW

By Lucía Tedesco via El Planteo

Hemp is gaining ground in the automotive industry. Interior panels and structural components are some of the parts now being made from the plant's fibers.

Major automakers like Volkswagen VWAGY VWAPY VLKPF, BMW BMWYY and Ford F are actively exploring hemp use in their vehicles, driven by the need to reduce carbon emissions, improve fuel efficiency and respond to the growing demand for eco-friendly products from consumers.

A Commitment Between The Auto Industry And Hemp

Volkswagen, in collaboration with biomaterials startup Revoltech GmbH, has launched a research project to develop a leather substitute, creating a hemp-based artificial alternative. The new material, called LOVR, is vegan, oil-free, recyclable and compostable, designed to meet the company’s sustainability standards.

See also: This 12-Time NBA All-Star Is Making Autoparts With Plants, Predicts ‘All Plastics Will Be Made From Cannabis’

The brand plans to begin using this material in its models starting in 2028, according to Hemp Today. Additionally, the use of hemp fibers, which are byproducts of local agricultural waste, highlights the effort to maximize resource use and minimize waste.

BMW, another renowned automaker and the world's most sustainable, according to the S&P Dow Jones stock index, has incorporated hemp into the door panels of its i3 electric vehicles to reduce its carbon footprint. In addition to enhancing sustainability, using the plant helps reduce the vehicle’s weight, improving fuel efficiency.

The company is also exploring the use of other natural fibers, like flax and kenaf, and is developing "wood foams" made from 100% renewable materials. These efforts are part of a larger goal to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 40% by 2030.

Blast From The Past

Henry Ford's vision of a car made from sustainable materials continues to inspire the auto industry. In 1940, he introduced a prototype car made from hemp fiber and resin, described as "ten times stronger than steel." While the idea didn't take off at the time, it's now seen as a precursor to current efforts to use renewable materials in car manufacturing.

Ford has already tested hemp fibers in its interior car components and has incorporated natural fiber composites into models like the Ford Focus.

Mercedes-Benz MBGAF and Audi are also exploring hemp for their vehicles. Both brands are incorporating the fibers into interior components to reduce weight and enhance sustainability.

Despite advances, integrating hemp into mass automotive production presents technical challenges related to the material's consistency and durability under different conditions. Additionally, the supply chain to source hemp sustainably and at scale remains a developing area. Manufacturers must still balance the cost of implementation and scalability with the environmental benefits.

Cover image by El Planteo, based on the following assets:

• FDRMRZUSA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
• See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
• Mercedes-Benz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
• SVG based on this imagede:Datei:Ford.svg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
• BMW, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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