Ford Explorer Gets Soy-Based Cushions
Ford Motor Company announced the 2011 Ford Explorer will feature soy foam in seat cushions and seatbacks. The bio-based polyurethane foam will be one of the new features in the Ford Explorer which goes in to production later this year.
Soy foam is just the tip of the iceberg in the development of vehicle materials from natural resources,” said Debbie Mielewski, Ford polymer technical leader. “We have to entertain the thought of bio-replacement in baby steps, looking at every aspect of a car that could be green. One day I hope to see the automotive world go totally compostable, removing the use of petroleum-based parts 100 percent.”
The company is currently surveying 35 of their top global suppliers on their energy use and estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in an effort to reduce carbon emissions, and is measuring emissions of their products and supply chains by testing a new global framework that is part of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative.
