With the rapid development of industry, the amount of plastic used across various fields has increased considerably. Studies show a very large increase from the appearance of synthetic plastics at the beginning of the 20th century (around 1907, with the invention of Bakelite) to the present. If in 1950 plastic production was estimated at 9.2 million tons, it now exceeds 460 million tons per year. Statistical results show that if the current trend continues in 2060, we will have approximately 1.2 billion tons per year. An essential question remains: what happens with this huge volume of plastic after use? A part of the waste is collected, recycled and reused. However, the recycling percentage remains relatively low globally. A large part of the plastics ends up in landfills, in waterways, or in the environment, contributing to soil and ocean pollution and affecting ecosystems. It is known that in the automotive industry, plastic materials play a very important role due to their properties such as low weight, strength and low cost. They represent approximately 15–20% of a vehicle's total mass and are used in components such as the dashboard, bumpers, interior panels, and various structural elements. To reduce the environmental impact, the automotive industry is increasingly adopting sustainable solutions. The aim is to replace conventional plastic materials with ecological alternatives, such as recycled materials, bioplastics or biodegradable materials. These solutions not only reduce waste but also decrease the carbon footprint associated with the production and use of vehicles. This paper analyses the concept of sustainability and its importance in the current context, highlighting the benefits of implementing it in the automotive industry by shifting from conventional materials to recycled and bio-based materials. Implementing sustainability in this sector offers multiple benefits, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, optimising resource use, and lowering long-term costs. A special focus will be placed on identifying and describing the main categories of sustainable materials used or proposed for use in the automotive industry. These include recycled materials, biopolymers, natural fibre-based composites, and biodegradable materials.