Natural Fibers Contribution to Sustainability in Inovar-Auto Program 2013-36-0576

In recent years it's noticed a considerable growth in vehicles sales, resulting a great gas emissions volume increase and consequently a higher environment impact. Currently Brazilian automotive scenario faces a moment which government and market requires energetic efficiency increase, on the other hand it is challenges the OEM's to develop lighter cars, providing thereby an “environmentally friendly” vehicle. Considering this scenario, natural fibers application in automotive parts has a great contribution, because in a large parts variety it application is possible. This application studies has contributed and earned great highlight in sustainability terms. Natural fibers provides great environmental benefits because it's renewable, biodegradable and require low energy consumption in its manufacturing process, further it's lighter than fiberglass and others conventional fibers. This paper will address the natural fibers importance using in the automotive parts production process, such as plastic and acoustic insulation parts, as the instrument panel, door panel, headliners etc. Some beneficial characteristic for it use is the total recycling parts possibility, noise reduction, mass reduction, which provides a lighter car, efficiently and with lower fuel consumption, besides encouraging sustainable social programs creation in cultivation this kind of vegetation. The gain for the final consumer and the benefits granted by the government with the INOVAR-AUTO justify using these fibers, since it helps OEM's in achieving challenging metrics proposed by the program.