Had some rodents eat holes in some of my hoses in engine bay, turns out the hoses were made partially with soy products. WTF, why in the world would the manufacturers/suppliers do that??

 

My guess, because it's less expensive to do so?

 

Environmentally its slightly better, Nissan isn't the only manufacturer that has bio mixed components that rodents enjoy.

 

So that consumers buy more parts.

 

https://www.wheels.ca/news/rodent-damage/

"Some are blaming the auto industry’s shift to wire insulation made from soy, as well as rice husks, wood, peanut oil, corn and other sugars. Critics charge that plant-based plastics give off a faint vanilla smell when warm, turning vehicles into a moveable feast for pests.Automotive wiring used to be coated with less appetizing polymer-based plastic insulation. But over the past 20 years, manufacturers have adopted biodegradable materials to make recycling easier and to meet sustainability targets set by well-meaning government policy."

 

Doesn't make any sense...fixing the problem will result in a larger carbon footprint. That, and you're probably just gonna go back to the less eco-friendly product that actually works.

 

Perhaps, but in 12 years Ive had no issue with vermin attacking my hoses. Hood blanket, yes, hoses no. I beleve this is the first I have heard of this on this forum. Were it more prevalent, I might agree with you.

 

True...I assumed OP was talking about aftermarket parts.