Continental’s Benova Eco Protect Milestone on the Way to Sustainable Vehicle Interiors

Continental has developed a brand-new premium surface
material: Benova Eco Protect. Its advantages: It makes vehicle interiors more sustainable, durable,
and comfortable at the same time. The surface material is currently being manufactured in
Germany. Further production capacities will be made available at Continental’s American plant in
Winchester, Virginia.
“Whether on the instrument panel, door panel, side or center console, seat cover or headrest –
wherever Benova Eco Protect is used, it impresses with its particularly soft feel and exceptional
value appeal combined with outstanding aging resistance and fastness to light,” says Christian
Noell, Global Head of Segment Automotive for the surface specialist. “Due to its excellent heat and
UV resistance, the material also withstands special environmental influences in the vehicle
compartment. This makes it particularly durable.” Thanks to the choice of suitable base materials
and the optimal interaction of the entire construction, even prolonged heat of 120°C cannot harm
Benova Eco Protect. In addition, these properties enable new interior design trends through the
use of bright colors on demanding surfaces.
Good eco-balance
“On the road to sustainable vehicle interiors, Benova Eco Protect is an important milestone in the
product development,” emphasizes Gabriele Wittmann, Global Director Research at Continental.
“By consistently avoiding any critical ingredients, plasticizers and solvents, the material is
particularly low in emissions and odors and has a low Product Carbon Footprint.” The material of
Continental meets the requirements of all OEM-specific substance prohibition and declaration lists,
of the GADSL (Global Automotive Declarable Substance List), and the EU Chemicals Regulation
REACh.

Benova Eco Protect also offers a weight advantage of about 20 percent and is free of materials of
animal origin. In addition, the resource-conserving and energy-efficient production process make a
positive contribution to the eco-balance of the entire vehicle. For example, no solvents are
evaporated during the drying process, eliminating the need for after-treatment of exhaust gases.
Benova Eco Protect has a thickness of 0.9 mm to 4.3 mm, its material backing consists of textile,
polyurethane foam, sandwich foam or spacer fabric.
Winner of German Innovation Award
The commitment to product development of Benova Eco Protect has paid off: In recognition of its
high degree of innovation the German Design Council has appointed the material “Winner” in the
“Excellence in Business to Business” class in the Materials & Surfaces category out of 640 entries.
The German Innovation Award honors solutions that make our lives better and contribute to a
better future. In this competition, Benova Eco Protect impressed the jury with its innovative
properties.
The German Innovation Award has been presented since 1953 by the German Design Council as
the world’s leading competence center for communication and knowledge transfer in the field of
design, brand and innovation. It honors innovative achievements from a wide range of industries
that break new ground through their added value. The focus is on the user experience.
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people
and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable
solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2021, Continental generated sales of €33.8
billion and currently employs more than 190,000 people in 58 countries and markets. On October 8, 2021,
the company celebrated its 150th anniversary.