Ford Teams Up To Develop Wheat Straw-Reinforced Plastic To Be Used In 2010 Ford Flex
This application alone reduces petroleum usage by around 20,000 pounds and reduces CO2 emissions by 30,000 pounds per year
Ford Motor Company, working with academic researchers and one of its suppliers, has developed and used environmentally friendly wheat straw-reinforced plastic in a vehicle.
The first application of the natural fiber-based plastic that contains 20% wheat straw bio-filler is on the 2010 Ford Flex's third-row interior storage bins. This application alone reduces petroleum usage by some 20,000 pounds per year, reduces CO2 emissions by 30,000 pounds per year, and represents a smart, sustainable usage for wheat straw, the waste byproduct of wheat.
Patrick Berryman, a Ford engineering manager who develops interior trim, said: Ford continues to explore and open doors for greener materials that positively impact the environment and work well for customers. We seized the opportunity to add wheat straw-reinforced plastic as our next sustainable material on the production line, and the storage bin for the Flex was the ideal first application.
The company's new-age application for wheat straw joins other bio-based, reclaimed and recycled materials that are in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. Ford's sustainable materials portfolio also includes soy-based polyurethane seat cushions, seatbacks and headliners; post-industrial recycled yarns for seat fabrics; and post-consumer recycled resins for underbody systems, such as the new engine cam cover on the 2010 Ford Escape's 3.0-liter V-6 engine.
Ford works with the Ontario government-funded project, which is seeking to advance the use of more plant-based materials in the auto and agricultural industries. Ford is advancing a strategy to migrate this bio-based material to numerous other interior, exterior and under-hood applications for multiple product lines.
Related Insight
Suppliers Directory
Auto Components Chassis & Suspension Powertrain Paints & Materials
Technology Automobile Technology Testing
Leasing & Insurance
Supply Chain Automobile Distribution Fleet Management
Green Technology Green Vehicles Green Powertrain
Intelligence
“Competing For Share Of Global Automotive Industry Spend In 2010-2011” is a new report published by ICD Research that analyzes how industry suppliers’ media spend, marketing and sales strategies & practices and business planning will be shaped in 2010 to 2011. In an uncertain economic climate this report gives you access to the media channel spending outlooks, media budgets, marketing agency selection criteria, business challenges and sales tactics of leading suppliers to the chemicals industry. The report also identifies automotive manufacturers and suppliers future growth, M&A and investment expectations. The research is based on an extensive survey of senior and C-level industry executives from our market leading panels. Reports Buy online from $2000
Comments may be moderated for spam, obscenities or defamation.