Product Sustainability Index

Ford’s European operations pioneered the development of the Product Sustainability Index (PSI), a holistic Design for Sustainability approach that incorporates societal and economic aspects as well as environmental aspects1 into our lifecycle design approach.

Ford’s PSI tracks eight product attributes identified as key sustainability elements of a vehicle: lifecycle global warming potential (mainly carbon dioxide emissions); lifecycle air-quality potential (other air emissions); the use of sustainable materials (recycled and renewable materials); vehicle interior air quality (including allergy certification from TÜV Rheinland, a product-testing organization); exterior noise impact (drive-by noise); safety, as measured by the European New Car Assessment Program (including for occupants and also pedestrians); mobility capability (seat and luggage capacity relative to vehicle size); and lifecycle ownership costs (full costs for the customer over the first three years).

Since 2002 we have been applying the PSI as a sustainability management tool in the development of all of our major new European vehicles. The PSI process was used to develop the 2006 Ford S-MAX and Galaxy, as well as the 2007 Mondeo, 2008 Kuga, 2009 Fiesta and 2011 Focus. The Focus is the first Ford vehicle developed using the PSI system that is being sold globally. And, the PSI assessment of the Focus was the first PSI study conducted jointly by Ford of Europe and Ford North America. As a result of using the PSI assessment system, all of these models have shown improvements in environmental, social and/or economic performance when compared to the previous models. The chart below shows specific performance and areas of improvement for each model. The PSI will be used on all future products developed by Ford of Europe. Detailed reports on the PSI analysis for these vehicles can be downloaded from Ford of Europe’s website.

In 2012, we applied the PSI tool to various propulsion technologies for a Focus vehicle type. We learned that for a battery electric vehicle (BEV) variant, the carbon footprint of the battery is only about 10 percent of the overall lifecycle CO2 emissions of a modern gasoline Focus. The carbon footprint of the electricity source used to charge the electric vehicle determines whether or not the Focus BEV is superior to a conventional Focus. In our study, we assumed the Focus BEV used electricity from sources below 400 g of lifecycle CO2/kWh – such as the electricity currently used in California, Norway, Switzerland and France. Based on this study, we found that the most cost-efficient, low-CO2 vehicles for customers are the Focus variants powered by the EcoBoost® engine or advanced diesel engines. In 2013, we will continue in this study by assessing plug-in hybrid vehicles.

PSI Assessed Model Performance2

Lifecycle Global Warming Potential2

Measurement Method

Emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases from raw material extraction to material, part and vehicle production, driving period (150,000 km, incl. air conditioning) and final recycling/recovery (i.e., full vehicle lifecycle, cradle-to-cradle)

  Performance* Better/Worse than Previous Model
2006 Ford S-MAX 2.0L TDCi with DPF 39 metric tons CO2 equivalent Similar
2006 Ford Galaxy 2.0L TDCi with DPF 40 metric tons CO2 equivalent Similar
2007 Ford Mondeo 2.0L TDCi Diesel with DPF 37 metric tons CO2 equivalent Better
2008 Ford Kuga 37 metric tons CO2 equivalent No previous model
2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, Diesel 21 metric tons CO2 equivalent Better
2009 Ford Fiesta, Gasoline 30 metric tons CO2 equivalent Better
2011 Ford Focus, 1.6 L, Gasoline 32 metric tons CO2 equivalent Better
2011 Ford Focus, 1.6 L, Diesel 27 metric tons CO2 equivalent Better

*1 metric ton = 1,000 kg

Lifecycle Air Quality

Measurement Method

Summer smog-related emissions from raw material extraction to material, part and vehicle production, driving period (150,000 km, incl. air conditioning) and final recycling/recovery (i.e., full vehicle lifecycle, cradle-to-cradle)

  Performance Better/Worse than Previous Model
2006 Ford S-MAX, 2.0L TDCi with DPF 37 kg ethene equivalent Similar
2006 Ford Galaxy, 2.0L TDCi with DPF 37 kg ethene equivalent Similar
2007 Ford Mondeo, 2.0-L TDCi Diesel with DPF 35 kg ethene equivalent Better
2008 Ford Kuga 35 kg ethene equivalent No previous model
2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, Diesel 22 kg ethene equivalent Better
2009 Ford Fiesta, Gasoline 32 kg ethene equivalent Better
2011 Ford Focus, 1.6 L, Gasoline 30 kg ethene equivalent Better
2011 Ford Focus, 1.6L Diesel 25 kg ethene equivalent Better

Sustainable Materials

Measurement Method

Use of recycled and natural materials

  Performance Better/Worse than Previous Model
2006 Ford S-MAX 2.0L TDCi with DPF 18 kg of non-metals Better
2006 Ford Galaxy 2.0L TDCi with DPF 18 kg of non-metals Better
2007 Ford Mondeo 2.0L TDCi Diesel with DPF 7.5% of non-metals Better
2008 Ford Kuga 6% of non-metals No previous model
2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, Diesel 8.5% of non-metals Better
2009 Ford Fiesta, Gasoline 9% of non-metals Better

Substance Management

  Performance Better/Worse than Previous Model
2006 Ford S-MAX, 2.0L TDCi with DPF Substance management, TÜV-tested pollen filter efficiency and allergy-tested label Better
2006 Ford Galaxy, 2.0L TDCi with DPF Substance management, TÜV-tested pollen filter efficiency and allergy-tested label Better
2007 Ford Mondeo, 2.0L TDCi Diesel with DPF Substance management, TÜV-tested interior and pollen filter efficiency Better
2008 Ford Kuga Substance management, TÜV-tested interior and pollen filter efficiency No previous model
2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, Diesel Substance management, TÜV-tested interior and pollen filter efficiency Better
2009 Ford Fiesta, Gasoline Substance management, TÜV-tested interior and pollen filter efficiency Better

Drive-by-Noise

Measurement Method

Decibel level weighted to human ear dB(A)

  Performance Better/Worse than Previous Model
2006 Ford S-MAX, 2.0L TDCi with DPF 71 dB(A) Better
2006 Ford Galaxy, 2.0L TDCi with DPF 71 dB(A) Better
2007 Ford Mondeo 2.0L, TDCi Diesel with DPF 69 dB(A) Similar
2008 Ford Kuga 72 dB(A) No previous model
2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, Diesel 69 dB(A) Better
2009 Ford Fiesta, Gasoline 72 dB(A) Similar
2011 Ford Focus, 1.6L Gasoline 66 dB(A) Better
2011 Ford Focus, 1.6L Diesel 68 dB(A) Better

Safety

Measurement Method

Complex method, structural stability, occupant safety, and pedestrian safety; active safety elements, etc., including European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) stars

  Performance Better/Worse than Previous Model
2006 Ford S-MAX, 2.0L TDCi with DPF Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 stars for adult occupant protection, 4 stars for child protection and 2 stars for pedestrian protection Better
2006 Ford Galaxy, 2.0L TDCi with DPF Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 stars for adult occupant protection, 4 stars for child protection and 2 stars for pedestrian protection Better
2007 Ford Mondeo, 2.0L TDCi Diesel with DPF Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 stars for adult occupant protection, 4 stars for child protection and 2 stars for pedestrian protection Better
2008 Ford Kuga Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 stars for adult occupant protection, 4 stars for child occupant protection and 3 stars for pedestrian protection No previous model
2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, Diesel 5-star Euro NCAP rating for adult occupant safety; electronic stability control available for all versions Better
2009 Ford Fiesta, Gasoline 5-star Euro NCAP rating for adult occupant safety; electronic stability control available for all versions Better
2011 Ford Focus, Gasoline and Diesel 5-star overall safety rating, plus 4 Euro NCAP Advanced rewards for Active City Stop, Lane Keeping Aid, Forward Alert and Driver Alert Better

Mobility Capacity

Measurement Method

Mobility service (including seats, luggage) to vehicle size; measured as vehicle shadow in m2 and luggage areas in liters

  Performance Better/Worse than Previous Model
2006 Ford S-MAX, 2.0L TDCi with DPF 10.25 m2 shadow area, 1,171 liter luggage, 5 seats Better
2006 Ford Galaxy, 2.0L TDCi with DPF 10.4 m2 shadow area, 435 liter luggage, 7 seats Similar
2007 Ford Mondeo, 2.0L TDCi Diesel with DPF 9 m2 shadow area, 530 liter luggage, 5 seats Better
2008 Ford Kuga 9.5 m2 shadow area, 410 liter luggage, 5 seats No previous model – among best in class
2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, Diesel 7.5 m2 shadow area, 295 liter luggage compartment Better
2009 Ford Fiesta, Gasoline 7.5 m2 shadow area, 295 liter luggage compartment Similar
2011 Ford Focus, Gasoline and Diesel 8.76 m2 shadow area, 363 liter luggage compartment Similar

Lifecycle Cost

Measurement Method

Sum of vehicle price and three years’ service (fuel cost, maintenance cost, taxation) minus residual value

  Performance* Better/Worse than Previous Model
2006 Ford S-MAX, 2.0L TDCi with DPF Approx. €22,100 Better
2006 Ford Galaxy, 2.0L TDCi with DPF Approx. €23,200 Better
2007 Ford Mondeo, 2.0L TDCi Diesel with DPF Approx. €18,300 Better
2008 Ford Kuga Approx. €19,100 No previous model
2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, Diesel Approx. €13,000 Similar
2009 Ford Fiesta, Petrol Approx. €11,000 Better
2011 Ford Focus, 1.6L Gasoline Approx. €16,400 Better
2011 Ford Focus, 1.6L Diesel Approx. €16,700 Better

*No guarantee that the costs reflect market conditions (in particular dependent on assumed differences in residual value and running cost).

Both Ford’s own internal assessments and external assessments have found the PSI to be an effective lifecycle assessment and design tool. An external study, conducted by experts in lifecycle science and sustainability, found the PSI to be a design and analysis step that provides a full sustainability assessment and meets the requirements of ISO 14040, the international lifecycle assessment standard. The PSI assessments of the 2006 S-MAX and Galaxy vehicles were certified against the ISO rules for Lifecycle Assessment. This certification process also verified the overall PSI methodology used for all subsequent PSI-developed models.

  1. Environmental aspects is a term used in the ISO 14001 framework to denote elements of an organization’s activities, products and services that can interact with the environment. Potential environmental impacts include any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization’s activities, products or services. Local Ford facilities use corporate lists of environmental aspects and potential impacts to identify and amplify those aspects that apply to their operations.
  2. PSI-rated models are only available in Europe.

Downloads

Download Summary Report

Ford’s 2012/13 Sustainability Report is summarized in this 8-page downloadable document.

Visit our Downloads page for this report in full or as separate sections along with supplementary publications.