Ford Motor announced Wednesday that 85 percent (by weight) of each Ford vehicle made now is recyclable.
In addition to the usual car parts that have been recycled for years, Ford has also been adding sustainable raw materials or recycled materials for components in select cars.
Ford’s use of components like splash shields and engine covers made from post-consumer recycled plastics has prevented an estimated 25 million to 30 million pounds of plastic from going into landfills, according to company statistics.
The 2010 Ford Taurus, for example, will be the 11th Ford vehicle to have seat cushions, seatbacks, and headrests made from soy and biomass-based foam. Ford-produced vehicles that already have this include: the Ford Mustang, F-150, Focus, Flex, Escape, Expedition, Econoline, Mercury Mariner, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln Navigator.
The company is also using seat fabrics made from recycled yarn in the Ford Escape and Escape Hybrid, and in the 2010 Ford Flex the storage bins are made from wheat straw-reinforced plastic. lts goal is to eventually make cars where none of the plastic components are made from petroleum, but from things that are completely compost able.
Source: BBC News
