Coca-Cola and Ford to make biodegradable car interiors

Coca-Cola's new biodegradable PlantBottle Technology material, which was unveiled in the Chinese market for the first time in April this year, has been put to use for the first time in a car.

The Ford Motor Company unveiled its new Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid vehicle on Nov 15, complete with interior surfaces made from PlantBottle Technology material, which consists of up to 30 percent plant-based materials.

The material is used for the vehicle's interior fabric surfaces, covering seat cushions, seat backs, head restraints, door panel inserts and headliners.

The new application marks the first use of the biodegradable material outside of packaging, and affirms a joint commitment by two global consumer icons to the use of renewable materials as an alternative to petroleum-based substances.

Coca-Cola originally developed the new material as a biodegradable alternative to the lightweight plastic material, known as PET, that it normally uses for bottles.

"By using PlantBottle Technology in a plug-in hybrid, Ford and Coca-Cola are showing the broad potential to leverage renewable materials that help replace petroleum and other fossil fuels, reducing the overall environmental impact of future vehicles," said John Viera, global director of sustainability and vehicle environmental matters at Ford.

Ford and Coca-Cola began cooperation on the car last year, when research teams came together to explore opportunities for innovation involving sustainable materials.