Plastics Europe

Mobility & transport

Plastics help achieve transport solutions that combine high performance, competitive pricing, safety, strength and minimal environmental impact.

When developing transport solutions, designers strive to find the ideal balance between high material performance, competitive pricing, style, comfort, safety, fuel efficiency and minimal environmental impact. The sustainable solution is reflected by an optimal balance of all these parameters and requirements.

Innovative plastics are a key contributor, because:

  • Plastic components weigh 50 percent less than similar components made from other materials, which means a 25 to 35% improvement in fuel economy. 
  • For every kilogram lost, your car will emit 20 kilograms less of carbon dioxide over its operating life.
  • Plastics offer lightweight solutions that fulfil essential safety requirements such as fire safety. 

Airplanes are a good example of how plastics and design innovation are connected in a highly modern and material challenged application.

Since the 70s, the use of plastics in airplanes has grown from 4 to around 50%. 

In the automotive industry, plastics allow for energy absorption, weight reduction and innovative design, while contributing to passenger safety. Features such as shock absorption for bumpers, suppression of explosion risks in fuel tanks, seat belts, airbags and other life-saving accessories such as durable plastic safety seats to protect young passengers make plastics the safest material for automotive applications.



Plastics are also in the vanguard of sustainable innovation, with the average car containing 120 kilograms of plastics (around 15% of its total weight). Modern concept cars are a perfect example of how innovation made possible with plastics also brings environmental benefits.

The car features a range of high-quality thermoplastics that bring design flexibility, but more importantly, the light weight of these plastics means that the car uses an average of 3.3 litres of fuel every 100km and emits only 86g of CO2 per kilometre! 

8 min read

Plastics: Road Safety’s Guardian Angels

To say that plastics used in vehicles are only used to make them lighter underestimates their role … Polymers also contribute to the safety of motorists and other road users
Aeroplane landing on runway at sunset
8 min read

Aviation: high-flying polymers

Aircraft manufacturers are increasingly using composite materials and polymers within aircraft structures. These materials undeniably owe their success to being lightweight; however, they also possess many other key qualities.
SeaBubbles flying boat floating on lake
2 min read

SeaBubbles flying boats: urban transportation with zero emissions

Zero waves, zero emissions, zero noise — that was Alain Thébault’s vision when he first invented the Sea Bubble back in 2017. This small electric water taxi is “somewhere between a car, a boat and a plane”, and Alain has long dreamed of seeing it running up and down the Seine in Paris.
2 min read

Citroën Oli, a think tank on wheels

Citroën and BASF have unveiled the Oli concept car: a simple, accessible and smart electric mobility solution made from recycled and recyclable materials.
2 min read

mtrl.bike, a plastic bike made to last

At a time of soaring interest in urban cycling, there are countless initiatives setting out to reinvent this means of locomotion.
2 min read

AeroSHARK, a “shark skin” to cover aircraft

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has decided to coat the 12 Boeing 777s in its fleet with a polymer adhesive film. This new surface technology will reduce the fuel consumption of the sub-fleet by more than 1% while significantly reducing CO₂ emissions.
2 min read

An XXL sail to tow cargo ships

Today, 90% of the world’s trade in goods is carried out by maritime transport, which accounts for 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This environmental footprint is expected to increase to 17% by 2050. The IMO (International Maritime Organisation) objective is to reduce the sector’s GHG emissions by 50% compared to 2008 by 2050.
8 min read

Tomorrow’s vehicles: polymers lending their weight to the future

Faced with environmental challenges, the automotive industry must reinvent itself. Their design departments are working hard, using new technologies and new developments in materials. Among which, plastics still have many advantages to offer.

“Polymers remain the materials of the future for our industry”

An interview with Gérard Liraut, Polymer Expert Leader for the GROUP RENAULT.
6 min read
2 min read

Luca, a small 100% sustainable electric car

Luca is the name of a small, sporty yellow electric car made entirely or almost entirely from plastic waste from the ocean and recycled materials.
2 min read

Zipline, a drone to deliver Covid vaccines

While much of the talk these days revolves around the lack of availability of Covid vaccines, the logistical challenges involved in delivering the vaccines have received very little attention.