Ford, REPREVE to Recycle 2 Million Plastic Bottles Back into the New 2012 Focus Electric and Other Vehicles
Ford announced plans to keep about 2 million plastic bottles out of landfills by using REPREVE® in its vehicles. The effort began with the 2012 Focus Electric. It was the first car to feature branded REPREVE® seat fabric. That fabric blends recycled plastic bottles with other post-consumer waste. Ford’s move highlights how smart material choices can drive big environmental gains.
REPREVE
Turning Events into Recycling Hubs
Ford and Unifi, the makers of REPREVE®, took their partnership a step further. They began collecting plastic bottles directly from major events. That included the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, held January 9–10, and the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January 10–13.
At these events, both companies gathered bottles that would have ended up as waste. Instead, they recycled them into REPREVE® fibers. Ford will use those fibers in future vehicles. Throughout the year, Ford and Unifi plan to expand these efforts. They’ll collect bottles at other high-traffic venues to keep more plastic out of landfills—and put it back into cars.
- Focus Electric is the first vehicle with interior materials made of 100 percent clean technology. That’s including the use of REPREVE recycled fibers; seating in each vehicle interior. For it uses roughly 22 recycled plastic bottles.
- Recycling effort is under way to raise awareness that only 29 percent of plastic bottles are recycled in the United States. For that’s nearly half the rate as in Europe.
Saving while going green
“Ford builds vehicles with top fuel efficiency,” says Carol Kordich, Lead Designer of Sustainable Materials at Ford. “At the same time, we aim to use at least 25 percent clean technology in our interior materials. The Focus Electric shows that effort. It’s our first gas-free vehicle. Even better, it’s the first in the auto industry to feature branded REPREVE®.”
Roger Berrier, President and COO of Unifi Inc., added, “The U.S. PET bottle recycling rate still sits at just 29 percent. That’s only about half of Europe’s rate. After decades of education, we must do more. This program with Ford raises awareness and pushes for change. We want to reach 100 percent recycling. As a result, millions of bottles could avoid landfills—and return as REPREVE® fibers.”
Ford Focus Electric Vehicle has a cool swivel door for the charge port.
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Quality on the inside
Using REPREVE also reduces energy consumption. That’s by offsetting the need to use newly refined crude oil for production. The technology meets all Ford design and comfort requirements. Especially to help ensure the Focus Electric. I mean and other vehicles meet the company’s high performance standards.
“We aimed to make the Focus Electric the most overall sustainable vehicle available to consumers, from using clean technology to overall vehicle efficiency,” said Kordich.
The Focus Electric, Ford’s first all-electric passenger car, started production in December 2011 at Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich. When full production is under way in March, the car’s seat fabric could contain plastic bottles collected at NAIAS or CES.
Eco-Conscious Solutions
Ford’s “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” mission drives its global sustainability strategy. The company works to shrink its environmental footprint. At the same time, it accelerates the development of advanced, fuel-efficient vehicles worldwide.
Right now, Ford vehicles are about 90 percent recyclable at the end of their life. By using recycled materials and also designing recyclable parts, Ford leads the industry. Even better, the company aims for 100 percent recyclability in future models.
First of all, in 2009, Ford set a clear mandate. All fabric suppliers must use at least 25 percent recycled content for every model year 2009 vehicle and beyond. Since then, Ford has developed 37 unique fabrics that meet this standard. As a result, those fabrics now appear across the brand’s global lineup.
Ford also incorporates eco-friendly materials throughout its interiors. These include soy foam in seat cushions and also the head restraints. Wheat straw fills plastic in storage bins. Castor oil foam also now shapes instrument panels. Ford even uses recycled resins in underbody systems. Finally, natural-fiber plastics and recycled yarns enhance seat covers and other cabin features.
Together, these innovations prove that sustainability and smart design as well can go hand in hand.
Source: Ford Motor Company
