As automakers and suppliers search for new ways to reduce vehicle weight, some engineers are experimenting with natural fibers. Bamboo, cotton, hemp, jute, kenaf, rice and other crops can be used to produce high-strength composite structures for automotive applications.
Ford Motor Co. is already a leader in using sustainable materials. For instance, rice hulls are used to reinforce plastic in F-150 pickup truck wiring harnesses. Wheat straw is used in the Flex full-size SUV to reinforce storage bins.