Ford Tackles Carbon Emissions with a Creative New Approach

#Ford is committed to reducing our planetary impact. Watch how we’re testing making vehicle plastics from CO2.https://t.co/YkInvj7j6T

— Ford Drive Green (@FordDriveGreen) May 17, 2016

Generally, when automakers talk about reducing carbon emissions, they mean scaling back the amount of carbon they are releasing, either by streamlining the manufacturing process at their plants, or making their engines more efficient to reduce the CO₂ released from the tailpipe as they drive.

Sometimes scaling back just isn't enough. Ford is finding ways to actually reverse carbon emissions.

Since 2013, Ford has been teaming up with a "green chemistry" company called Novomer. Novomer collects CO₂ gasses from industrial sites, and turns them into plastic. It's a process very similar to what plants do when they "breathe" CO₂ and turn it into leaves, and stems. Rather than being released into the atmosphere, these carbon emissions become durable plastic and foam that can be used by Ford as cabin materials.

In fact, almost all of the new Ford cars, trucks, and SUVs in Columbus are made with soy-based seat cushion foam! Ford has spent two decades working on renewable materials that reduce the company's greenhouse gas emissions... now, Ford is working to take those emissions back out of the air.