Ford already has 1.5 million seatbacks and seat cushions in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles made with soy-based polyurethane foam. These materials are lighter and also save over 1.5 million pounds of petroleum production in the process. Ford's soy-foam strategy is branching out into headliners as well, like the ones in the 2010 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles. When a 25% weight reduction is considered -- just for a headliner -- you can bet that Ford will be looking for other ways to reduce petroleum usage while shuttering weight from its new cars and trucks.

Ford's strong movement into biomaterials to replace traditional petroleum-based materials will continue giving it a manufacturing and marketing edge as long as these enhancements can be marketed as more than being "ecologically friendly" -- which is enough in itself. To achieve critical mass in sales, you have to hit most customers over the head with a sledgehammer (figuratively) -- and if Ford can find a way to do this, it will continue being the American auto manufacturing eco-trendsetter -- while also being the most successful at the bottom line.