Ford Bronco Sport clips use less energy to produce.
Ford Motor Company is turning marine debris into auto parts.
Ford said it was the first car manufacturer to recycle plastic collected from the ocean into auto parts. It uses discarded nylon fishing nets (also known as "ghost gears") to make Bronco Sport harness clips, which the car manufacturer claims are as strong and durable as petroleum parts, but with a 10% reduction in cost and energy required for production. less.
"This is a good example of a circular economy. Although these clips are small, they are an important first step for us to explore the use of recycled ocean plastics for other components in the future," Ford Research Vice President and Vice President Jim Buczkowski Say. Henry Ford Technical Researcher.
The clip weighs about 5 grams and is fastened to the side of the second row of Bronco Sport seats to guide the wires that power the side curtain airbags. They are made of materials collected by DSM Engineering Materials in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. DSM cleans, dries and extrudes the plastic into small pellets, which are then injection molded into the final shape by the supplier Heilman Taitong.
Ford plans to use ghost gears to make additional components — including transmission brackets, wire shields, and floor side rails — which account for nearly 10% of the world’s ocean plastic waste.
"Development like this is not easy," said Anisia Peterman, product manager of Heilman Taitong Automotive. "So we are proud to work with Ford to support unique product solutions and contribute to a healthier ocean."
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