In the automotive industry, non-asbestos based components, such as brake pads, have been
in high demand due to environmental and human health concerns. Therefore, the purpose of
this study is to select an alternative friction material, which is eco-aware lightweight,
cost effective, and non-toxic. This will be accomplished using Cambridge Engineering
Selector (CES) Edupack software, embedded within an Eco-Audit Tool. For verification, a
comparative study using the Pugh method was also investigated. The results show that
Kenaf, which is a commodity plant in Malaysia, is the most suitable alternative friction
material that passes all of the design stages and consumes less energy, compared to
asbestos and other potential materials.