2012 Ford Focus Will Have Recycled Denim Seats

Recycled clothing isn’t just for the thrift store anymore. Starting early next year, the Ford Motor Company will release the next-generation Focus featuring used denim in the seats, carpet backing, and as sound-absorption materials for interior quietness.

The amount of post-consumer cotton from blue jeans used in each vehicle comes out to roughly two pairs of average-sized American jeans, based on pounds of cotton used per yard of denim and the yards of denim used to make a pair of jeans.

“One of our key goals is to use more recycled or renewable materials without compromising performance or durability,” said Carrie Majeske, Ford’s product sustainability manager. “Recycled content is a way to divert waste from landfills and reduce the impact of mining virgin material.”

Although the iconic American car manufacturer still has a long way to go before it will be able to shed its gas-guzzling reputation, incorporating more recycled materials in its car designs is a great way to reduce the impact of production and the end cost for the consumer.

Over the past several years, Ford has concentrated on increasing the use of non-metal recycled and bio-based materials, including soy foam seat cushions, recycled resins for underbody systems, recycled yarns on seat covers and natural-fiber plastic for interior components.

“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,” Majeske said. “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.”

What else are people discarding that could be used to create more sustainable, affordable vehicles? Share your ideas in a comment!

Also check out:
Levi Strauss Creates New Jeans With 28% Less Water
How To Recycle Blue Jeans
Whiskey-Powered Cars for Scotland
6 Ways to Reuse Old Jeans

Image Credit: Flickr – Nano Taboada

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Teresa T.

1:02PM PST on Feb 27, 2013

Nice! I hope this is just the beginning of reusing, recycling in making new products.

February 27
send a green star

Sue H.

8:13PM PST on Feb 1, 2012

Good on Ford!

February 1
send a green star

Rosie L.

2:46PM PST on Feb 1, 2012

awesome idea ty

Kristina C.

12:35PM PST on Feb 1, 2012

O.K. - a babystep - but it does not make the car any greener - right!

Please sign my petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/give-a-pitbull-a-chance/

Ana P M.

12:10PM PST on Feb 1, 2012

I sure hope it works and that it doesn't cost the consumer $$

Sylvia M.

9:11AM PST on Dec 17, 2011

Sounds like a good idea. I'm guessing they will have different colored denims to match the color of the car and the interior. Denim is so rugged, it's a good choice. Just have to give it light treatment so it's easy to clean.

December 17
send a green star

Brenda T.

5:32AM PST on Dec 17, 2011

It's a start!

sheila F.

5:19AM PST on Dec 17, 2011

They should also look into using recycled plastic bottles for the foam instead of soy. I figure if they can figure out how to make quilt batting from recycled plastic bottles they can do other stuff with it.

Kath P.

5:04AM PST on Dec 17, 2011

I wish all car manufacturers would think this way. Ford is a trend setter.

Michele W.

6:22AM PDT on Jul 10, 2011

Thank you