# Lightweight Sustainable Automobiles Dutch Students Built and Designed This Biodegradable Car By Alyson Wyers | Published 2017-08-21 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biodegradable-car References: [springwise](https://www.springwise.com/students-build-sustainable-car-made-sugar-beets-flax/) & [tue.nl](https://www.tue.nl/) This student-designed biodegradable car called Lina is made from sugar beets and locally grown flax. Based in the Netherlands, Eindhoven University of Technology students built and designed the [lightweight automobile](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/speedster-ev) -- weighing around 685 pounds -- out of resin composed of environmentally friendly materials. Certified as road-worthy by the Netherlands Vehicle Authority, the four-seater sustainable car has conventionally comprised wheels and suspensions, but a bio-plastic and bio-composite base frame or chassis. The biodegradable car fills a gap left by [electric vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aria-2), which do not emit carbon dioxide, but do take considerable energy to manufacture. This process still releases harmful climate change-contributing chemicals. Lina is an example of a more sustainably manufactured machine and method of transportation. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.3/10 - Popularity: 77% | Activity: 75% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Biodegradable Materials:** Exploring and implementing biodegradable materials in manufacturing processes can lead to more sustainable products. - **Lightweight Design:** Developing lightweight automobiles can reduce energy consumption and improve fuel efficiency. - **Sustainable Manufacturing:** Incorporating environmentally friendly materials and methods in the manufacturing process can result in more sustainable products. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Automotive:** The automotive industry can benefit from adopting biodegradable materials and lightweight design concepts to produce more sustainable vehicles. - **Manufacturing:** The manufacturing industry can explore and implement sustainable manufacturing practices, including the use of biodegradable materials, to reduce environmental impact. - **Renewable Resources:** The renewable resources industry can support the development and production of sustainable materials like sugar beets and flax used in the biodegradable car manufacturing process. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Recycled Material Vehicle Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/akxy2-vehicle.md) - [Sustainable Luxury Vehicle Interiors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/odyssean-edition.md) - [Biophilic Design Electric Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/azulik-mobility.md) - [Lightweight Plywood Electric Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electraply-ebike.md) - [Plastic Waste-Powered Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bertone-gb110.md) - [Plant-Based Car Leather](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/leather-alternative-1.md) - [Improved Battery Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/battery-sustainability.md) - [Naturalistic Plant-Based Bicycles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/astan-bike.md) - [Sustainable Car Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/we-harvest-wind.md)