Ford Bronco Sport's target customers are more adventurous buyers than environmentally conscious buyers, but Ford announced that it does have a new perspective on sustainable development. Ford Bronco Sport's harness clamp is made of recycled marine plastic. Ford said it is now the first car manufacturer to use 100% recycled marine plastic to make auto parts.

According to the global non-governmental organization Pew Charitable Trust, as many as 13 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, polluting the coastline and endangering marine life. Most of the plastic in the ocean comes from fisheries that use plastic fishing nets. Those same fishing nets and other abandoned ghost fishing gear have had a significant impact on marine life. Ghost gear accounts for nearly 10% of all marine plastic waste, tangled fish, sharks, dolphins, seals, turtles and birds.

Ford is working with DSM Engineering Materials to help collect marine plastic from the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, and then convert the plastic into a high-performance polyamide called Akulon RePurposed. A supplier called HellermannTyton uses pellets made by DSM and turns them into Bronco Sport harness clips.

"As a global leader in cable management innovation, Heilmann Taitong is committed to paving the way for a more sustainable future in an environmentally friendly way," Hellmann Taitong Automotive Product Manager Anisia Peterman said in a press release. "Development like this is not easy, so we are proud to work with Ford to support a unique product solution that contributes to a healthier ocean."

Ford also said that using recycled marine plastic has other benefits, because the entire process of manufacturing parts is 10% cheaper than petroleum parts and uses less energy. Recycled parts are equally strong and durable. The driver may never see the recovered parts in the Bronco Sport because the harness clip is installed on the side of the second row of seats.

Critics pointed out that although the harness clip is a positive step, it appears insignificant in the overall situation. Engadget notes:

Ford said it hopes to find other uses for recycling marine plastics in the future, such as floor side rails and transmission brackets. The automaker’s press release states: “The wire harness clip in the Ford Bronco Sport is the first of many wire harness clips the company plans to produce using discarded plastic fishing nets.”

Although this is the first time a car manufacturer has used recycled marine plastics, this is not the first time Ford has used recycled plastics to make various parts. Ford has used recycled plastics for more than 20 years. Recently, Ford used recycled water bottles as the underbody protective cover on the 2020 Escape. In 2019, Ford announced the use of the equivalent of 250 bottles of recycled plastic in its vehicles.

The good news is that Ford is not the only car manufacturer to use recycled plastics, because Volvo uses recycled plastics from non-marine sources in its XC60 SUV. Volvo also launched a concept version of the XC60 in 2018, which features a tunnel console made from discarded fishing nets.

"Prevent marine plastics." Pew Charitable Trust.

"The most dangerous single source of ocean plastic that no one wants to talk about." Ocean Guardian, 2019.

"Ghost Gear: The discarded fishing nets that plague our oceans." Greenpeace, 2019.

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