[INTERACTIVE INFOGRAPHICS]: What Green Materials Go Into a Ford Vehicle?

At Hannover Messe, different green and lightweight materials found in the American car manufacturer’s vehicles were showcased —from recycled plastic bottles to plant-based elements.

Henry Ford was always interested in using sustainable materials in his cars. In the 1940s, the prototype “soybean car” used soy-based plastic panels over a metal framework. Seventy years later, Ford is still involved with green materials. The average Ford vehicle includes between 10 and 20 kilos of renewables, depending on vehicle class. Around 300 parts used throughout Ford vehicles come from such sustainable sources.

Mica DeBolt is a Biomaterials Research Engineer at Ford Motor Company:

We are using different materials—soybeans, plastic bottles, natural rubber and even other companies’ waste materials. Using renewable materials in the vehicles has many environmental benefits. The main advantage lies in their light weight which, for example, reduces carbon footprint.

This infographic presents some of the surprising substances already found in Ford cars, and others that are being developed. Mouse over the hotspot icons to discover which materials are found in the following parts.