Advancing Environmental Load Reduction Technology

Ford and Coca-Cola, two leading American corporations, are currently engaged in a joint research initiative named "PlantBottle Technology," which aims to create automotive interiors from recycled plastic bottle materials.



Traditionally, car interiors have been predominantly made from petroleum-based materials, often combined with other substances like genuine leather. Ford has pioneered the use of materials derived from Coca-Cola's plastic bottles for components such as seats and door panels.



The first vehicle to feature an interior crafted from these recycled plastic bottle materials is the Ford Fusion Energi, a plug-in hybrid research vehicle that was showcased at the LA Auto Show.

Coca-Cola's plastic bottles are composed of 70 percent petroleum-based material and 30 percent plant-derived material from sugarcane, making them more environmentally friendly than conventional interior materials made entirely from petroleum. Coca-Cola supplies Ford with these granular plastic bottle materials, which Ford processes into fine fibers and then weaves into fabric for use in the Ford Fusion Energi's interior.



The primary goal is to reduce environmental impact and contribute to the supply of sustainable products by utilizing materials developed with PlantBottle Technology in seat cushions, seatbacks, headrests, door panel inserts, and headliners.



Indeed, the fabrics and carpets used in the concept car's interior, revealed at the LA Auto Show, possessed a high-quality feel and a design flexibility that did not betray their origin from recycled plastic bottles.

According to Ford, if PlantBottle Technology were implemented in the interior fabrics of most of Ford's production models in the U.S., it could reduce petroleum-based materials by approximately 4 million pounds, while also saving 295,000 gallons of gasoline and 6,000 barrels of crude oil.



Separately, the Ford Fusion already utilizes soy-based materials in its seat cushions. Each vehicle incorporates the equivalent of approximately 31,250 soybeans. Since the introduction of soy-based seat cushions in 2007, the use of soy has reached 5 million pounds annually, resulting in a calculated reduction of over 20 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions to date. This initiative also represents a meaningful approach to environmental sustainability by finding productive uses for soybeans that are not suitable for consumption.