Toyota Prius Hybrid Chooses to Go One Step Further in Its Journey to Sustainability, Featuring Ingeo™ Fiber

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A special floor mat available for the fully–remodeled third-generation Toyota Prius uses an advanced Ingeo™ based fiber.

“We have long looked at Japan as an ‘innovation engine’ for our Ingeo™ business”

Known as the world’s most eco-conscious car, Toyota Prius features world-leading mileage (38km/L), a solar powered ventilation system, and environmentally friendly plant-derived plastics for seat cushion foam, cowl side trim, inner and outer scuff plates, and deck trim cover. Now, the new Prius adds to these bio-based materials by offering optional floor mats (deluxe type) using an advanced Ingeo™ fiber system.

As a result of reducing the use of fossil resource as much as possible in its manufacturing process from feedstock to factory shipment, Ingeo™ reduces the fossil fuel use by 65% and cuts by 90% the CO2 emission when compared to the petroleum-derived nylon resin used in traditional floor mats. By adopting the Ingeo™ mat products, Toyota benefits from the unique environmental advantages of a fiber made from plants, not oil. This adoption of new floor mats exemplifies Toyota’s belief that the use of environmentally friendly materials is as equally important as design and product performance.

“We have long looked at Japan as an ‘innovation engine’ for our Ingeo™ business,” noted Marc Verbruggen, NatureWorks CEO. “With Toyota’s latest development, we recognize their achievement in leading the automotive industry’s efforts with excellence in bio-based product performance and innovation.”

NatureWorks in Japan supplied Ingeo™ to Toyota Tsusho Corporation, which developed the new environmentally friendly floor mats. For more information on gaining greater market acceptances for products and improving the triple bottom line through plastic made from plants, not oil, visit the contacts page on the NatureWorks website www.natureworksllc.com to locate the nearest sales office.

About NatureWorks

Dedicated to meeting the world’s needs today without compromising the earth’s ability to meet the needs of tomorrow, NatureWorks LLC is the first company to offer a family of commercially available low carbon footprint polymers derived from 100-percent annually renewable resources with cost and performance that compete with oil-based plastics and fibers. The production of these biopolymers uses less fossil fuel and emits fewer green-house gases than conventional polymers. The company applies its proprietary technology to process natural plant sugars to make Ingeo™ biopolymer, which is then used uniquely to make and market finished products under the Ingeo™ brand name. For more information, visit www.natureworksllc.com.

Ingeo and the Ingeo logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NatureWorks LLC in the USA and other countries.