Automotive’s Sustainable Future: Colour & Material Strategies

Published 05 February 2026

Author

8 min read

Building on our CMF Industry View: Automotive 26/27 report, we outline the colour and material strategies and initiatives set to drive sustainability forward for the industry – covering future-proof materials and resilient supply chains, efficient painting technologies, high-quality recyclates and consciously designed interiors.

Accelerating Low-Impact Practices

Future-Proof Materials

Conscious Colour & Coatings

A competitive edge underpins many sustainability initiatives as brands race towards decarbonisation, circularity and efficient resource consumption. Single-origin recyclates improve end-of-life systems, strategic material choices help to lower carbon footprints, and holistic thinking sees materials and components scrutinised and revised.

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With ongoing sourcing challenges – courtesy of global pressures, climate change and depleting resources – automakers are pursuing long-term resilience across their supply chains. Closed-loop systems and bio-based mining methods are helping to safeguard critical materials for electric vehicle batteries, while the benefits of renewable naturals are increasingly recognised.

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While bio-based and recycled formulations make gradual headway, investments in automated painting technologies are driving some of the most exciting opportunities for low-impact yet premium finishes in the industry. Elsewhere, automakers are considering new perspectives by forgoing paint entirely.

Automotive’s Sustainable Future: Colour & Material Strategies

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Topics

Automotive & Transport

Colour

Materials

Science & Technology

Textiles

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