BMW has cracked paint, and we literally do it

From the October 2022 issue of Car and Driver.

To reduce its carbon footprint, BMW is trying something innovative if a bit confusing: a matte finish made from manure. Don’t panic. As with other recycling operations, there are many steps between wastewater and finishing in a special order on your M440i.

Bio-waste is a source of organic and renewable versions of naphtha and methane, compounds commonly associated with paint manufacturing. When separated from their surroundings, they are nearly identical to petroleum-derived naphtha and methane. Starting with waste products means using less fossil fuels, and paint supplier BMW BASF says CO₂Emissions in this production process are 40% lower.

Developing paints from other organic materials is not plug-and-play and requires more time. But because the waste-derived coating closely resembles the oil-based version, it can be produced in a short time.

BMW factories in Germany and South Africa have switched to painting this way, which means that the matte finishers from Ms to X3s will have a sustainably sourced finish. So if a hater says your new matte-finished BMW “has a terrible paint job,” you can proudly answer, “Yes, it does.”

Your car is garbage

BMW isn’t the only company looking to waste to make parts. Here are some other examples of automakers digging in recycling bins:

Floor

Abandoned fishing nets and other trash are converted into Econyl recycled nylon, which is used in floor mats for vehicles, including the Mercedes-Benz S-class and BMW iX.

Hold tight

Ocean trash is also turned into less visible pieces, such as the Ford Bronco Sport’s wire clip, which uses plastic made from nylon fishing nets recovered from the Indian Ocean.

No cows

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a polymer in single-use items such as plastic bottles, shopping bags, and straws. Volvo launches its leather alternative, Nordico, from materials including recycled PET bottles and wine corks.

Lighting

Love McDonald’s coffee? You’re helping Ford make parts. Coffee husks, the dry shell of coffee beans that expand as they are roasted, can be mixed with resins and other additives to create a durable reinforcing material, so Blue Oval partnered with McD’s to take advantage of the elimination of the java provider. . Ford gives the car a new life in headlight housings and other components that it says are about 20 percent lighter and require up to 25 percent less energy to manufacture.