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Plastics have long played an important role in helping to make cars lighter and more fuel efficient, but many consumers may not realize the extent to which plastics have revolutionized the vehicles they drive every day. To communicate how plastics help make possible the modern design, safety, and fuel efficiency of cars, Plastics Make it Possible, an initiative sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council, has partnered with the Green Car Journal to announce the 2010 Green Car of the Year® and conduct the "Green Car Ride & Drive" at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. The show takes place December 4-13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

At the Green Car Journal's "Green Car Ride & Drive" event on December 3, Plastics Make it PossibleSM will demonstrate the important role that plastics play in green vehicle technology. Media have the opportunity to test drive any of the 2010 Green Car of the Year finalist vehicles, along with additional green concept vehicles such as battery electric cars.

Award winning automotive expert Lauren Fix, better known as the Car Coach, will be on hand to highlight the use of plastics in automobiles. Plastics Make it PossibleSM representatives also will assist media in creating personalized videos of their test drives that can be uploaded to blogs and web sites.

"We are excited to partner with the Car Coach® as it honors the 2010 Green Car of the Year® finalists and their innovative green technologies, many of which wouldn't be possible without plastic."

Plastics are playing an increasingly important role in automobile technologies. In fact, plastics make up approximately 50 percent of the total material volume of new cars today.1 And this isn't just in the dashboard or on interior door handles. The lightweight and versatile nature of plastics has allowed automobile engineers to use these innovative materials in key applications such as the engine and vehicle structures, helping to significantly reduce vehicle weight. For every ten percent reduction in vehicle weight, fuel economy improves 5-7 percent.1 Not only do consumers save money on gas, but greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced (depending on a vehicle's gas mileage).

Safety is another area where plastics are making a big difference. Plastics are crucial to a number of safety features including air bags, safety belts, padded bumpers, B pillars and door frames. Plastics also are providing opportunities for vehicle designers to create comfortable, durable and sustainable vehicle interiors – from seats to carpeting to dashboards. Many plastics, including PET (polyethylene terephthalate), are readily recyclable, and many eco-friendly vehicle designers are utilizing recycled PET (e.g., plastic beverage bottles) in interiors and upholstery, allowing plastics to live a second life in automobiles.

When a vehicle has driven its last mile, plastics can help auto manufacturers meet end-of-life recycling and recovery goals. By utilizing recyclable plastics in automotive parts, manufacturers are increasingly able to meet their target goal of recycling at least 85 percent of the material in end-of-life vehicles.2

About Plastics Make it Possible
Plastics Make it Possible highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems and help us design a safer, more promising future. This initiative is sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council. For more information, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com.

SOURCE: The American Chemistry Council