MLADÁ BOLESLAV, Czech Republic—The seats of ŠKODA’s new ENYAQ iV electric vehicle will be upholstered with fabric that combines wool with polyester made from recycled plastic bottles.

“The consistent use of sustainably produced materials in our vehicles is changing the requirements in the purchasing division and placing new demands on our suppliers,” says Markéta Truhelková, purchasing coordinator for vehicle interior components at ŠKODA. “We are working together to develop innovative sustainable materials that stand up to everyday use, are easy to work with, and are attractive design accents.”

The fabric was developed by Czech supplier Sage Automotive Interiors. Bottles made from PET are crushed, melted and processed into granulate. This is used to make a durable yarn. Once on the loom, 6,000 such threads are turned into a resistant fabric. The material is then washed and dried to give it stability.