I remember the first time I drove through Indiana. I was amazed by the maize.
Sure, I had grown up seeing the ad promising that there’s more than corn in Indiana, but there was also quite clearly a lot of corn. I mean, a lot. Mile after mile after mile after mile after mile of it.
So, I’m sure that the people of the Hoosier State are quite happy with Honda’s continuing Triple Action to Zero initiative, which is using quite a lot of corn to develop the company’s Durabio material.
Honda’s Triple Action to Zero initiative “addresses carbon neutrality, clean energy, and resource circulation as the three leading factors that will see net zero emissions by 2050,” according to a media release issued by the company last week. And Durabio is a plastic substitute that Big Red is using for fairing panels on a number of its bikes (and, I think, cars).
Durabio was originally developed by the Mitsubishi Chemical Group and is made from various renewable sources, like corn and wheat. Score another point for the American Midwest on that one. Whereas the United States is the world’s largest exporter of corn, it is No. 4 when it comes to wheat.
Honda is quick to point out that this corn and wheat are of the inedible sort, lest anyone fear that children will go hungry for the sake of motorcycle fairing. And Honda says that it’s not just the composition of the fairing that’s helping save the planet, but the way in which it is used.
“Unlike conventional engineering plastics, Durabio offers a unique combination of optical clarity, toughness, and surface durability,” explains a media release. “Its ability to offer both excellent transparency and vivid colour expression allows Honda to create sophisticated aesthetics without the need for painting, eliminating an entire step from the production process.”
At present a number of scooters and motorcycles make use of Durabio, with perhaps the most notable example being the new CB1000GT sport tourer (a bike I am desperate to try out). Although, in that case, only the windscreen uses the material.
Elsewhere, the material shows up in the bodywork and windshields of the CRF1100L Africa Twin, the NT1100 tourer, and the NC750X.
“In addition to delivering an elegant, glossy finish, Durabio exhibits high scratch resistance, impact strength, and long-term UV stability,” says the media release. “Honda’s integration of Durabio into its motorcycle lineup is reflective of the brand’s mission to deliver the ‘joy and freedom of mobility,’ while actively trying to reduce its environmental footprint.”
Outside of corn-based fairing, Honda is also making use of a number of recycled materials, including recycled automobile bumpers (used for the luggage box of the 2025 NC750X and X-ADV), and recycled polypropylene (used to make some 15 parts for the X-ADV and Forza 750, as well as the rear mudguard for the CB1000F).
You have to respect Honda for singing about its green efforts in the current political climate. Many other brands have happily jettisoned their efforts in recent years or have decided to be very, very quiet about them. Yes, I’m looking at you, Harley-Davidson.
“Honda is focused on reducing dependence on finite resources and developing scalable solutions to minimize ecological impact,” the company says. “By adopting renewable and recyclable alternatives… Honda is actively working to lower its CO2 emissions, conserve resources, and mitigate any future risks of material scarcity.”
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