Integrated into the lining of MX-30’s console, cork was chosen because it is a natural, sustainable and biodegradable raw material, and thus helps reduce the environmental footprint of the Japanese brand’s latest model. Supplied by Amorim Cork Composites, Corticeira Amorim's business unit that develops products, solutions and applications for some of the world’s most sophisticated business sectors, such as the aerospace, automobile, construction, sports, energy or design industries, cork also endows comfort , impermeability, and thermal, acoustic and anti-vibration insulation to the Japanese manufacturer’s car.
Moulding techniques have made it possible to combine cork’s natural characteristics - such as lightness, elasticity and softness to the touch – to provide a feeling of well-being, natural beauty and comfort inside the car. In view of cork’s unique resilience, compressibility and resistance to friction this solution is also prepared to withstand the demands of everyday life. Whether for daily use or sports driving and for a wide range of different road surfaces.
According to Tomiko Takeuchi, the project manager for Mazda’s new model, “cars are no longer just used to transport passengers from point A to point B. It is therefore vital to increase pleasure during the trip. In other words, make sure that people enjoy the time they spend in the car”. Placing cork inside the vehicle, endows it with a unique look, intensifying the feeling of contact, balance and harmony with nature.
This idea is reiterated by Corticeira Amorim’s Chairman and CEO, António Rios de Amorim, who also highlights other benefits of using cork “such as safety, extensive durability and the fact that it is a hypoallergenic material. It is a raw material that is so exceptional by nature it may seem impossible to enhance it even further. But that is precisely what Corticeira Amorim has been achieving over the past 150 years, through structured innovation programmes, investing in differentiation on the basis of cork’s unique qualities, and contributing like no other cork company to the reinvention of this unique natural material”.
The integration of cork inside the new Mazda MX-30 is perfectly aligned with Corticeira Amorim's mission: to add value to cork in a competitive, differentiated and innovative manner, in perfect harmony with nature. In other words, promote the development of sustainable products, practices and solutions, while satisfying consumer needs, anticipating market trends, and exceeding the expectations of some of the world’s most technologically-advanced, disruptive and demanding activities.
