Ford Puts Old Jeans to New Use in 2012 Focus
Putting a new spin on “reduce, reuse and recycle,” Ford has announced they’re going to give old blue jeans a new lease on life.
If you’re buying a 2012 Focus (on sale early next year in North America and Europe), Ford will be using cotton from recycled clothing for carpet backing and sound-absorption materials inside this car. Thanks to the recycled jean material, drivers will be treated to a much quieter cabin.
“Ford is continually looking for greener alternatives,” said Carrie Majeske, product sustainability manager. “Recycled content is a way to divert waste from landfills and reduce the impact of mining virgin material.”
This isn’t the first instance of Ford using non-metal recycled and bio-based materials in new vehicles. In vehicles such as the 2011 Explorer, the automaker uses soy foam seat cushions, recycled resins for underbody systems, recycled yarns on seat covers, and natural-fiber plastic for interior components.
In every new Focus, Ford will use the equivalent of two pairs of blue jeans in each new Focus.
“The good news is these jeans didn’t end up in a landfill, nor did we use the water, fertilizer, and land to grow virgin cotton,” said Majeske. “It’s an alternative that our customers can appreciate, it’s cost effective, and it’s better for our planet. These are the kinds of sustainable solutions we are looking for in all our vehicles.”
More by Amy Tokic
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