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Ford Using Soy-based Seats Wrapped in 100% Recycled Fabric in Escape and Mariner
20 August 2008
The Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner are using new soy-based foam seat cushions wrapped in 100% recycled fabric, the first such seats in the automotive industry.
In addition to the Escape and Mariner, the Ford Mustang, F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator also feature soy-based foam seat cushions. Ford first showcased its current work with soy foams in 2003 on the Model U concept, which featured soy-based seat cushions as well as a soy-based resin composite tailgate.
Ford’s Plastics Research team has formulated the chemistry to replace a 40% of the standard petroleum-based polyol used in seating materials with a soy-derived material. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, soy-based products have only one-quarter of the level of total environmental impact of petroleum-based products.
August 20, 2008 in Brief | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Comments
Posted by: Shawn | August 20, 2008 at 11:36 AM
As the story says, Ford steadily expands this program.
They seem fascinated by soy based foams and recycled material for fabrics.
Nothing wrong with making the efforts, it is their business to decide what they do and publicize. Maybe others are doing as much but saying less.
Posted by: K | August 20, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Actualy a fair number of companies have been testing the soy based foam not just for green reasons but for moola reasons as they expect sooner or later the oil based foams will rise up too high in price.
Posted by: wintermane | August 20, 2008 at 08:18 PM
here come the rats! just like that tsb for the honda fit!
Posted by: philmcneal | August 20, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Okay Ford, great, now give us what we really want - more than 25,000 Ford Escape Hybrid's a year. Shift production over to one of those factories you're closing so you can meet market demand, before someone like Toyota (RAV4) or Honda (CR-V) wises up and produces a hybrid variant (and eats Ford's lunch).
Posted by: Sasparilla | August 21, 2008 at 10:59 AM
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My girlfriend is allergic to soy. I wonder if she will get sick sitting in a Ford...