Ford and Coca-Cola are teaming up to produce fabrics made from the beverage maker's PlantBottles, including the seats in this Ford Fusion Energi.

Ford Motor Co. is teaming with Coca-Cola to save the planet.

It may be a bit of an exaggeration, but the corporate behemoths are partnering in a venture to make interior fabric out of recycled plastic bottles. While Ford has been doing this for some time, the difference now is that the companies are using Coca-Cola’s PlantBottle material, which is composed of plastic and plant materials, which is friendlier to the environment that just using recycled plastic alone.

Since 2009, Coke has produced 18 billion PlantBottle containers, saving 400,000 barrels of oil in 28 countries combined.

While collaborating on efforts to find innovative opportunities for more sustainable products, research teams figured out that Ford can post similar results if used the PlantBottle materials. If PlantBottle interior fabrics were used on most Ford models, it would displace nearly 4 million pounds of traditional plastics, saving the equivalent of 295,000 gallons of gasoline and 6,000 barrels of oil, the automaker said.

“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,” said John Viera, global director of sustainability and vehicle environmental matters at Ford, in a statement.

Ford created a prototype using a Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid that will be on display at the L.A. Auto Show. The PlantBottle fabrics went into seat cushions, seat backs, head restraints, door panel inserts and headliners.

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The idea behind the vehicle was launched last year during the time when the companies were exchanging ideas on sustainability efforts. Both companies use PET, a durable, lightweight plastic also known as polyethylene terephthalate, in a variety of products including plastic bottles, fabrics and carpets. This provided a natural opportunity to bring together both recyclable and renewable technologies.

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“This collaboration with Ford demonstrates that PlantBottle Technology can be applied anywhere PET plastic is traditionally used, but with a lighter footprint on the planet,” said Scott Vitters, general manager, PlantBottle packaging platform, The Coca-Cola Co.

“We are pleased to share this technology with Ford, and look forward to continuing to expand the application of PlantBottle Technology.”