The 2008 Escape is believed to be the first US car to use 100% recycled seating surfaces. The Fabric, supplied by InterfaceFABRIC, is produced using 100% post-industrial waste – from plastic intended for pop bottles to un-dyed polyester fibres.
The new fabric offers the same feel and durability of virgin-fibre fabrics and was subjected to a battery of tests to verify its wear and tear, seam strength, color consistency and even new-car smell.
InterfaceFABRIC estimates that using post-industrial recycled materials, rather than virgin fibers, on the 2008 Escape will conserve an estimated 600,000 gallons of water, an estimated 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents, and the equivalent of more than 7 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.