As the automotive industry looks to decarbonize, materials are taking it the extra mile as it looks to achieve true carbon neutrality.
Michael Ries, professor of soft matter physics at the University of Leeds, delivered the presentation ‘All-cellulose composites: Next-generation circular materials’ at the InteriVision Forum at this week’s Automotive Interiors Expo Europe 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. At the forum, Ries offered the industry alternative sustainable materials that are free from resin, glue and epoxy – all-cellulose composites.
“Next time you look at a tree, you are looking at a material [cellulose] that is as strong as concrete,” said Ries. Offering the composite as a sustainable, high-performance material, he discussed at the forum the recent advances in processing and structure-property optimization, as well as the composites’ role in supporting circular-economy goals and the transition to a net-zero future.
“Recycled materials, textile waste and agricultural waste can all be used to make this material, and it requires no additional treatment,” he said. “It has a low-temperature, low-energy manufacturing process, high chemical and thermal resistance, and is easy to recycle at end of use. Ultimately, at end of life, it is biodegradable.”
The material has been produced at thicknesses of up to 2.5cm, with a steering wheel used to demonstrate that this is sufficient for structural applications. “While it will not match the modulus of carbon fiber – reaching a modest 10 gigapascals – its density can be precisely controlled through processing, ranging from 0.9 to 1.3, offering flexibility across applications,” explained Ries.
He presented examples of the material in test form – they were shapeable, visually distinctive and optionally translucent – and explained how the material has application opportunities in industries ranging from automotive interiors to consumer products. Ries also explained that thicker composites could be built up from multiple laminated layers, which are bonded using the dissolved cellulose itself as an adhesive.
For Reis, the next step is taking the material from concept into real-world application: “We are here [at the expo] to find someone to license the material.” Automotive Interiors Expo Europe unites companies with cross-industry experience and reach. Finding the right someone – this is the place to do it.
Keep checking the AIW website for highlights from the event, which runs until Thursday, 25 June. Click here to register for your free pass to Vehicle Tech Week Europe 2026
