At Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford in Garland, we not only care about our customers and community, we care about helping protect the environment too. One way Ford Motor Co. is doing that is by addressing new ways to help recycle the mounting plastic bottle issue. Ford Motor Company has started using recycled plastic bottles for underbody shields on all cars and SUVs, and wheel liners on F-Series trucks.
Ford uses about 1.2 billion recycled plastic bottles per year – about 250 bottles per vehicle on average.
Why is Recycled Plastic Better?
Not only is it better for the environment, but recycled plastic is also better for the vehicle’s performance. “The underbody shield is a large part, and for a part that big, if we use solid plastic, it would likely weigh three times as much,” said Thomas Sweder, design engineer, Ford Motor Company. “We look for the most durable and highest performing materials to work with to make our parts, and in this case, we are also creating many environmental benefits.”
Here’s how it works: plastic bottles that are thrown in a recycle bin are shredded into small pieces. That’s typically sold to suppliers who turn it into a fiber, by melting the bottle and extruding it. Those fibers are mixed together with other various types of fiber in a textile process and used to make a sheet of material – which is formed into the automotive parts.
Due to its lightweight, recycled plastic is ideal for the manufacture of underbody shields, engine under shield and front and rear wheel arch liners that can help improve vehicle aerodynamics. Not only that but on the all-new 2020 Ford Escape, these shields also help create a significantly quieter environment.
“Ford is among the leaders when it comes to using recycled materials such as this, and we do it because it makes sense technically and economically as much as it makes sense for the environment,” Sweder said. “This material meets all of our robust specifications for durability and performance.”
Ready to help do your part by selecting a new vehicle that is recycling and reusing for the betterment of our environment? Visit Prestige Ford at 3601 S. Shiloh Road (off Garland Road and 635 — serving greater Dallas, Mesquite, Rockwall, Rowlett, Terrell, Richardson, Plano,) or shop online anytime at PrestigeFord.com!
Stay connected with us! Follow our social channels below for all sorts of fun, Ford related news and community info.