Our Commitment to Sustainability
Driving Sustainability in Materials and Manufacturing
At IDI, we’re not shying away from the hard work. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact by using responsible materials, improving energy efficiency, and minimizing waste throughout our manufacturing process.
By continuously investing in sustainable technologies and practices, we strive to create high-quality products while protecting resources for future generations.
How do we do it? By tackling Scope 1, 2, and Scope 3 emissions.
- Scope 1 & 2 | Facility: An international plant-wide focus on better energy and resource efficiency
- Scope 3 | Materials & End of Life, Category 1 & 12: A collaborative effort with suppliers to utilize raw materials with lower carbon footprints & investment in researching end-of-life impact of thermoset products
Doing the Hard Part First: Scope 3
The greatest impact we can have on improving the sustainability of IDI materials is through reductions in Scope 3 – utilizing raw materials with lower carbon footprints and supporting end-of-life initiatives. Learn about some of the recent strides IDI has made to these areas below.
ECOBed: Demonstrating What’s Possible with Sustainable Content
ECOBed with 79% Sustainable Content
In collaboration with our OEM, Tier 1, and supplier partners, IDI developed a demonstration SMC that has 79% sustainable content. To get there, the SMC included bio-renewable, bio-recycled, and recycled inputs.
Molding ECOBed to Demonstrate Production Readiness
Working with our OEM and Tier 1 partners, we molded production-ready truck bed parts to prove the moldability of the ECO Bed material.
Installation of ECOBed
The parts molded with 79% sustainable content were then installed on IDI’s R&D Demonstrator vehicle in the 3i Composites Technology Center.
Circularity: Completing the Circle
Our products are designed for durability and long-term use, but end-of-life solutions for products made from SMC and BMC are critically important. That’s why we’ve invested considerable time and resources into demonstration projects to prove the circle can be completed with SMC.
Led by our team in France at IDI Composites International Europe, end-of-life tailgates were mechanically reground into powder. The powder was then reintroduced to the SMC formulation as a partial substitute for the mineral filler component. The recycled filler was first studied in the lab, then at pilot scale and finally, in industrial production reaching an average of 25% by weight and making a new tailgate grade SMC formulation for compression molding. The recycled product not only retains the required physical and mechanical properties for high-performance applications but also enhances the environmental profile of the product. By closing the loop, this innovation reinforces the added value of thermoset composites compared to alternative materials.
Check out the video below to learn more!
Life Cycle Analysis
Taking a System-Level Approach to Life Cycle Analysis
Curious about the CO2e of an IDI SMC or BMC? Our Sustainability Engineers can provide those data.
However, the process of making a part from SMC differs from making that same part from an alternative material such as steel or aluminum. How do the process and design differences impact the CO2e of the final part? IDI and our partner Forward Engineering published and presented the findings from a Peer-Reviewed System Level LCA in April 2025 at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) WCX. Read the full paper at the link below.
SAE International | Advancing mobility knowledge and solutionsSustainability Resources
LCA Fact Sheet
Need a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) fact sheet for an IDI SMC or BMC? Our sustainability engineers can provide a top-down cradle-to-gate LCA for the specific formulation you use.
Sustainability Research & Training
Our team is eager to share our research into the sustainability of our products. Look for us at conferences or reach out to discuss how we can work directly with your team on this important research.
Collaborate with IDI
Have an idea for a sustainability demonstration project? Let’s collaborate to explore new ways to improve the environmental impact of our materials. We welcome ideas and partnerships with customers and suppliers to test, demonstrate, and advance more sustainable solutions.
Contact Us
Interested in our sustainable projects and products?
Contact one of our sustainability engineers to explore how IDI can support your sustainability goals.
info@idicomposites.com