Gasgoo Awards 2023 applicant:Lear Eco Seating Solutions from Lear (China) Holding Limited

Product: Lear Eco Seating Solutions 

Description

Lear's eco seating solutions include lightweight seat structure, low-carbon and environmentally friendly surface materials, soy foam and other technologies, which fully reflect the concept of low-carbon and environmentally friendly in a car seat. 1、Lear lightweight structure (APEX-LM) Lear's front seat structure adopts lightweight design. One 8-way electric seat structure weighs only 11.8kg, which is 10% lower than the market average. The design and manufacture of the seat frame follows the principle of green and low-carbon, in which the use of green steel (30% lower carbon emissions) weighs 9.3kg, accounting for more than 78% of the total weight of the seat structure. 2、Renewable surface materials (1) Natural and renewable leather: Lear Eagle Ottawa Leather is a natural and renewable resource, as well as a durable and cleanable surface material. Lear's Eagle Ottawa Leather is made from carefully selected. This year, Lear  Eagle Ottawa Leather has been awarded the gold medal by LWG (Leather Working Group), which is currently the world's most stringent certification for the "energy saving, carbon reduction, environmental protection and management" system for leather products. 2) 100% recycled textiles: Lear Guilford Performance Textiles including sustainable materials and processes, such as natural fibres, and fibres made from certified recycled materials. ReNewKnit™ is a Lear exclusive, first-to-market automotive textile that is fully recyclable at its end of life. Composed of 100% recycled plastic bottles, ReNewKnit™ fibers are spun from recycled polyester yarn and finished with a foam-free, recycled fleece backing that further reduces water and energy consumption in the manufacturing process.  ReNewKnit™ is a premium sueded material that challenges perceptions of reused and recycled textiles, with a wide range of surfaces suitable for various interior applications and improved functionality.  3、Soy Foam™ Lear Soyfoam™ solution is designed for market applications that require energy savings and offer automotive OEMs the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint. Compared to petroleum, 60% less energy is required to produce soy polyols. 5% of foam weight is 100% renewable and available globally For every kilogram of Soyfoam™ used, there is a net reduction of 5.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide.

Unique advantages

Lear's lightweight 8 Way Power seating structure weighs just 11.8kg, 10% below the market average. Extensive use of green steel reduces carbon emissions by 30% compared to the carbon base of the same material that Bao Gang supplied to the Chinese market in 2020.  Lear Eagle Ottawa Leather is the industry's first automotive dermal supplier to use water-based coatings instead of traditional solvent-based coatings such as toluene, a technology that reduces harmful air pollutant emissions by 99%.  Lear ReNewKnit™ is a premium sueded material that challenges perceptions of reused and recycled textiles with its buttery-soft hand and improved functionality that meets OEM standards while being 100% fully recyclable to ensure a reusable future.   Lear is committed to developing sustainable yarns that turn coffee grounds, wool, plants and various crops into "green yarns". For example, yarns developed from coffee grounds waste can be 100% recycled, reducing polyester usage; yarns made from animal hair fibres such as wool and mohair are natural and harmless, reducing carbon emissions. Lear Guilford is also working with the waste management and recycling industry to convert marine debris into recyclable marine plastics to make marine yarn. For every kilogram of such marine yarn produced, one kilogram of waste is removed from the sea.

Application

Lear Eco Seating is built with Lightweight Structure (APEX-LM) and renewable materials technology. 1. Headrest Soft PET fiber pad with EPP energy absorbable material to increase comfort and recyclable 2. Guilford Textiles We manufacture a selection of premium textiles that include sustainable materials and processes such as natural fibers and fibers made from certified recycled stock 3. Eagle Ottawa Leather A natural, renewable resource, leather is also durable and cleanable 4. Cushion Pan A surface Insert -  30% Linen Fabric  + 70% Recycled Polyester A surface Bolster - 30% Wool Fabric + 70% Recycled Polyester  Foundation - 3D Spacer, 100% Recyclable  Recycled Thread 5. Back panel Renewable resource natural fiber replace plastic material, reduce 80% energy in manufacture and reduce 10% weight 6. Foam Made from 100% renewable soybeans, Soyfoam™ requires 60% less conversion energy to produce compared with conventional foam, which in turn creates 4 times less emissions. 7. Plastic Material Broad product portfolio, Up to 100% recycled content plastic material, low CO2 footprint and less energy consumption 8. TCS (Thermal Comfort Solution) Lear integrate thermal comfort systems and provide whole system solution with small package and light weight

Prospect

Lear Eco Seating Solutions represent the future trends of the automotive industry, which not only meet OEM customers' requirements for a low CO2 footprint and low energy consumption, but also reflect Lear's social responsibility as a global leader in automotive seating and E-Systems technology.  Lear will continue its commitment to low-carbon environmental practices in subsequent product development, and continue to invest in research and development in areas such as recyclable materials, low-energy processes, and natural materials development. The company has also completed reference life cycle assessments (LCAs) on seven of its major product lines to measure and identify opportunities to improve the carbon footprint of its products. By the end of 2022, Lear decreased its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by nearly 17% against a 2019 baseline, putting the company on track to meet its 50% carbon reduction goal by 2030.