EcoSphere™: Simple, Smart and Sustainable Seating Technology

Drawing inspiration from the wisdom of our grandparents and the evolving trends in the bedding industry, we have developed Magna's EcoSphere™ product family. This groundbreaking innovation in automotive seating aims to safeguard our planet by revolutionizing the recycling process of these complex and sizable components.

Sustainability was built into the lives of previous generations. Most families had their own vegetable gardens or sourced produce from local farmers. Canning was popular, and vacations meant trips to local attractions, not long-distance travel. As a result, our ancestors’ carbon footprint was minimal, and individual choices compounded over time into collective action. Adopting this attitude of simplicity is key as we create new technologies for the auto industry.

Moreover, the transformative advancements in mattress materials led by industry leaders prompted our experts to delve deeper – and even required testing some new beds. It turns out mattresses made of easily recyclable material are just as durable and comfortable as those using traditional materials like polyurethane, which are more expensive and difficult to recycle.

These small, but significant insights led us to breakthroughs in seating technology.

Seats contribute to the landfill problem due to their composition of various polymers and materials, such as polyurethane, nylon, vinyl, and adhesive. Unfortunately, these materials are challenging to separate efficiently at the end of their lifecycle. Engineers like to describe seats as a “Frankenstein” mix because they are reminiscent of the monster made from old body parts and strange chemicals.