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Seat Fabric in All-New Ford Focus Electric Uses Waste To Create a Better World

Sitting on empty plastic bottles while driving or riding in a car would be less than ideal. That’s not the case when it comes to the all-new Ford Focus Electric, as it features seat fabric made of recycled material that includes the equivalent of more than 20 plastic bottles per car. The fiber – called REPREVE® – is made from a hybrid blend of recycled materials and manufactured by Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), a global leader in sustainable textile solutions. Unifi officials say 22 plastic, 16-ounce water bottles are used in the seat fabric of a single Focus Electric. The figure is based on the amount of REPREVE branded fiber used in the production of fabric in each vehicle. Ford is the first automaker to use REPREVE branded fiber in its seat fabric.

Empty Plastic Bottles

A fabric termed REPREVE® is produced by Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI). For it is a global pioneer in sustainable textile solutions. One which is created from a combination of reused components. According to Unifi representatives cool stuff. All to make the seat material of one Focus Electric. That’s 22 plastic, 16-ounce water bottles also required. For this number is based on the amount of REPREVE branded fiber. One that is used in the manufacture of fabric. I mean in each motor vehicle. Ford is the first automaker to make use of REPREVE branded fiber in its seat fabric.

Repreive plastic seats   

2012 Ford Focus Electric

The 2012 Ford Focus Electric is green in other ways, too. So Focus Electric runs on battery power alone. Thereby requiring no gasoline. Most importantly, producing zero carbon dioxide emissions.

In 2009 Ford mandated that fabric suppliers use a minimum of 25 percent recycled content. That’s for all 2009 model year vehicles and beyond. Since then, 37 different fabrics meeting the requirements have been developed. Moreover and incorporated into Ford vehicles. In addition, Ford is taking it a step further. That’s by mandating that fabric be 100 percent sustainable. All in vehicles with eco-conscious powertrains. Especially like the Focus Electric.

REPREVE®

A fabric termed REPREVE® is produced by Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), a global pioneer. All in sustainable textile solutions. One which is created from a combination of reused components. REPREVE fits the bill, she said, because it is a combination of post-industrial fiber waste and post-consumer waste. Using REPREVE also reduces energy consumption. That’s by offsetting the need to use newly refined crude oil for production.

Eco-conscious solutions

Ford’s “Reduce, reuse and recycle” commitment is part of the company’s broader global sustainability strategy to reduce its environmental footprint while at the same time accelerating the development of advanced, fuel-efficient vehicle technologies around the world. Last month, Ford announced it is using 25 20-ounce plastic bottles to make the carpeting in every all-new Ford Escape utility vehicle it builds. It’s the first time Ford has used this type of carpeting in an SUV. Over the past several years Ford has concentrated on increasing the use of nonmetal recycled and bio-based materials. For they provided these materials are environmentally favorable. That’s in the specific application. Examples include soy foam seat cushions and head restraints. That’s with wheat straw-filled plastic. Also castor oil foam in instrument panels. In addition, recycled resins for underbody systems.That’s also recycled yarns on seat covers. In addition, natural-fiber plastic for interior components.

Ford Sustainability Report

Ford’s Sustainability Report also highlights the company’s work to meet its aggressive goal to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 percent per vehicle produced by 2025 globally. From 2013 to 2014, CO2 emissions per vehicle produced decreased by more than 2.4 percent, and the company remains on track to meet its longer-term goal.

Ford also significantly has reduced its global water use over the last several years. In 2014, the automaker announced it reduced per vehicle water use by 30 percent. That’s globally from a 2009 baseline. All for reaching its goal two years ahead of schedule.

 Source: Ford Motor Company

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