Environmentalists Fault Automakers

Since 1960, the percentage of plastics in vehicles by weight has increased from 0.6 percent to 7.5 percent in 2003. The report finds that all of the automakers still rely heavily on petrochemical-based plastics, which can release toxic chemicals during production, vehicle usage and disposal, according to a release from the Ecology Center. These materials are also difficult to recycle. PVC is one such plastic used in dashboards and exterior trim, for instance.

“The good news is that safer, less toxic plastics are readily available, American automakers just need to use them,” Mark Rossi, research director for CPA and lead report author, says.

The report graded the six top-selling automakers in the United States—Daimler Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Toyota—on 17 areas. Toyota lead the group with a C, while the others each received a D.

The report also found that some foreign automakers are faring better in the area of sustainable plastics because Japan and the European Union are ahead of the United States in terms of recycling requirements and restrictions on toxic substances.

The Ecology Center says that Toyota is making the most progress in creating a comprehensive sustainable plastics program, having developed a plastic made from renewable materials. The group also says that Toyota has set clear, comprehensive and measurable goals for sustainable plastics in addition to committing to reducing it PVC use.

The report recommends that automakers use a higher percentage of sustainable plastics at a global level, transition away from incineration as a disposal option for end-of-life vehicles and set measurable goals toward sustainable plastics