Innovation and sustainability in mechanical design through materials selection

Materials selection is a difficult and subtle task, due to the immense number of different available materials. Dealing with such exhaustive information was made possible through the systematization of the materials by their properties. Systematization provides enlarging the classical list of materials and offers new possibilities, facing innovation and sustainability. A practical example concerning the selection of materials to substitute poly vinyl chloride (PVC) in automobile interiors, is studied. Substitution intends avoiding health damage and environmental burden due to PVC, meeting, at the same time, the innovation quisites and the sustainability exigencies. Selection was made by applying the methodologies developed by Ashby and co-workers. Natural materials cork and wood were selected.