Ford has a long history of seeking new ways to reduce its impact on the environment. For almost 20 years, the automaker has worked to develop sustainable alternatives to traditional materials for its vehicles. Currently, ford uses recycled t-shirts and denim for carpeting, recycled tires in mirror gaskets, and recycled plastic bottles in its REPREVE fabric in the 2016 F-150.
Last week, Ford announced success in its latest sustainable materials initiative. The automaker is now the first in the industry to develop and test foam and plastic components developed using carbon dioxide as feedstock. The new biomaterial has passed rigorous automotive testing standards, and could be employed in seating and underhood applications within the next five years. It could potentially reduce Ford's use of petroleum by more than 600 million pounds a year.
“Ford is working aggressively to lower its environmental impact by reducing its use of petroleum-based plastic and foam,” said Debbie Mielewski, Ford senior technical leader of sustainability. “This technology is exciting because it is contributing to solving a seemingly insurmountable problem – climate change. We are thrilled to be leading the charge toward reducing carbon emissions and the effects of climate change.”
".@Ford Turning Captured CO2 Into Car Parts, Expanding Healthcare Outreach in Africa https://t.co/wt7GZECo2x"
— Sustainable Brands (@SustainBrands) May 17, 2016