Seat Suppliers Pitch Soy-Based Foam

SOUTHFIELD, MI – As auto makers pursue alternative fuels from crops and other renewable resources, so too are suppliers contemplating clever ways to produce auto parts from environmentally friendly materials.

In a vehicle’s interior, up to 40 lbs. (18 kg) of petroleum-based polyurethane foam is used to produce head restraints, armrests and seat cushions, and precious little of it is recycled for the production of new vehicles.

The top two seat producers,