Honda toward carbon neutrality: new 'bio-based' and circular solutions

Sunday, 30 November 2025 at 21:00

DURABIO™—a plastic derived from inedible corn—is increasingly used across Honda’s motorcycle range thanks to its strength and excellent scratch-resistant properties.

First used on the 2024 model year Africa Twin, this material is now found on six models in the 2026 lineup and is also used in the fairings. Plastic materials recovered from recycled Honda car bumpers are also applied to reduce reliance on sourcing new plastics.

“Triple Action to Zero” is a corporate goal for Honda that encourages alternative thinking and smart solutions to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing activities on the planet.

The initiatives address three key factors—carbon neutrality, clean energy, and resource circularity—to achieve a net zero emissions balance by 2050. In addition to producing electric motorcycles and cars and making changes to production and logistics facilities to reduce CO₂ emissions, Honda is adopting alternative materials on various motorcycle models.

For example, the entire bodywork of the SH125/150i Vetro is made with unpainted semi-transparent fairings, reducing CO₂ emissions by 9.5% on an annual basis at Honda’s Atessa (CH) plant compared to standard painting. Today, six Honda models in the European lineup incorporate recycled plastics and DURABIO™, a bioplastic developed by Mitsubishi Chemical Group, already featured on several models and coming to others. But what is it and why is it innovative?

DURABIO™ is derived from isosorbide, a plant-based material obtained from renewable sources such as non-edible corn and wheat. Through a refining process, the natural starches in corn are converted into glucose, then into sorbitol, and finally into isosorbide: a high-performance compound that can replace traditional petrochemical derivatives.

When ‘bio-based’ innovation meets high-performance design

Unlike conventional engineering plastics, DURABIO™ offers a unique combination of optical clarity, toughness, and surface resistance. Its ability to deliver transparency and vivid color expression allows Honda to create sophisticated aesthetics without the need for painting, eliminating an entire step from the production process.

In addition to a sleek glossy finish, DURABIO™ features high scratch resistance, impact toughness, and long-term UV stability, making it ideal for highly stressed motorcycle components. DURABIO™ is used to make the windscreen of the CRF1100L Africa Twin, the NT1100, the NC750X, and the new CB1000GT sport-tourer, as well as on the unique two-wheeled “SUV” X-ADV and the GT maxi-scooter Forza 750.

Expanding use across the Honda range

Honda introduced DURABIO™ on its motorcycles with the windscreen of the 2024 model year CRF1100L Africa Twin, the first in the world to be made with biomass-derived engineering plastic. It was soon followed by the X-ADV, which uses it in the windscreen and the lower fairing. The material was then adopted on the Forza 750, in the handlebar cowl and the lower fairings.

Next came the NT1100, which, with the 2025 model update, received a redesign of the front fairing that is now partially made from DURABIO™, while the lineup was completed by the 2025 model year NC750X, which used this material for the entire fairing, the tail section, and the windscreen.

The NC750X marked a further step forward, becoming the first Honda motorcycle to use colored DURABIO™ in the fairings with the Earth Black and Earth Ivy Ash Green liveries.

The new CB1000GT, unveiled at EICMA 2025, is the latest model to integrate a DURABIO™ component, with its windscreen.

A multifactor approach

While DURABIO™ represents a mindful approach to reducing plastic consumption, Honda has adopted other solutions to lessen the use of raw materials.

Recycled bumpers have long been used in the automotive division for non-structural parts such as undertrays and grilles, but thanks to optimized design this material—previously difficult to apply to motorcycles—has also been used in the 23-liter front storage compartment of the 2025 NC750X and under the seat of the X-ADV, while the Forza 750 uses it in the base structure of the seat.

As part of expanding the use of recycled resins, Honda has begun using pre-consumer recycled polypropylene (PP), derived from waste generated during the production and molding of automotive and household appliance components, which is crushed, compacted, pelletized, and reused.

Since PP has known properties, it can be tuned to have the same physical characteristics as virgin materials, avoiding the risk of contamination with regulated chemicals. X-ADV and Forza 750 are leading the application, with over 15 components made from this material, while the new CB1000F is the latest model to join the list, with the rear fender and the lower seat panel made from recycled PP.

Toward a circular future with smart resource use

Honda’s adoption of DURABIO™ and other recycled materials aligns with the five key principles of resource circularity, aimed at shifting from a linear “take-make-dispose” logic to a circular value chain. The principles are:

Business innovation: build recycling-oriented systems that maximize material use throughout the product lifecycle.
Advanced recycling: invest in new recycling technologies to improve economic and environmental performance.
Data traceability: leverage digital tools to monitor CO₂ emissions across the lifecycle and improve resource recovery rates.
Circular design logic: design products for easy disassembly and reuse, selecting highly recyclable materials.
Circular value chain: collaborate with supply chain partners to ensure consistent sourcing, processing, and reuse of recycled materials.

Honda is focused on reducing dependence on limited resources and developing scalable solutions to minimize ecological impact. Currently, around 90% of the raw materials used in new vehicles come from mining. By adopting renewable and recyclable alternatives like DURABIO™, Honda is actively working to reduce CO₂ emissions, conserve resources, and mitigate future risks related to raw material scarcity.

The integration of DURABIO™ across Honda’s motorcycle range reflects the brand’s mission to deliver the “joy and freedom of mobility,” while striving to reduce its environmental impact.