The search for sustainability in automobile production has led Seat to become the first car brand to integrate parts made with Oryzite into its vehicles, which is a globally patented method for incorporating rice husk into all types of thermoplastic compounds.
This is an innovative, renewable, and natural-based material obtained from rice by-products after harvesting. The project was launched in 2020 as a pilot test during Seat’s Innovation Days and, after several years of joint research and development between the Martorell brand and the companies Oryzite and SIGIT, it is now fully integrated into the production line of the Arona.
In this way, the Seat Arona uses two support parts of the double floor of the trunk made with Oryzite, which have replaced what was previously composed solely of polypropylene and fiberglass, and now incorporates 15% Oryzite, a biological alternative to plastic.
“Currently, each Seat Arona that comes off the production line incorporates 60 grams of rice husk, which translates to an annual use of up to 5 tons of this byproduct from the rice fields of the Ebro Delta, a biosphere reserve located on the east coast of Spain”, said Gerard Suriol from the Interior Development department at the Seat S.A. Technical Center. “We have managed to incorporate this renewable material and promote the circular economy while reducing the use of petroleum-derived products”, concluded Gerard Suriol. But the benefits go beyond sustainability — the weight of the part has been reduced by 5.8% and production costs have decreased by up to 2%.
Thanks to Oryzite technology, it is now possible to offer a sustainable alternative to plastic. Rice husk is transformed into a raw material that can replace plastic, thereby reducing its use and waste, as well as the environmental impact of its production.
Furthermore, Oryzite is not only a renewable material, it is also an excellent carbon sink, contributing to emission reductions, and represents an innovative way to connect the primary and industrial sectors.
