Ford has been hard at work improving the Mustang Mach-E behind closed doors. One sweet new update added to the electric SUV is the sustainable frunk. Ford used post-consumer recycled materials, like yogurt cups, to create the frunk on the Mach-E. The electric Mustang SUV earned a sustainability award thanks to this thoughtful (and beneficial) design.

Ford’s Mustang Mach-E frunk is made from yogurt cups

Even if you aren’t a fan of the Ford Mustang Mach-E for one reason or another, this initiative is pretty cool. A team of Mach-E experts helped redesign the electric SUV’s frunk, or front trunk. These experts wanted to make the frunk easier to make, lighter, and less expensive. Such changes can also help reduce the carbon footprint of vehicles like the Mach-E.

Ford found that it could use around 115 recycled yogurt cups to improve the weight and cost of the frunk. The 2022 Mach-E frunk had six pieces and weighed quite a bit, which made it cumbersome and added to the overall vehicle weight. For 2023, the frunk is only made from one piece and weighs six pounds less. Both of those improvements also help keep costs down.

Research shows that using recycled materials in new car builds reduces the carbon footprint by 70% or more. The team at Ford said it was working hard to improve every new vehicle for customers with minor improvements like this. I don’t think yogurt cup parts make sense for every build, but I can appreciate what Ford is doing. The world needs fewer yogurt cups in landfills and more frunks for the people.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E was thoughtfully designed

The Mustang Mach-E also benefits from the new Smart as Ford initiative, which aims to improve vehicles. With attention to detail and “human-centered design,” there are some nice upgrades you might not notice at first. Some owners noted the touchscreen cracked too easily, so the automaker is utilizing a higher-quality Dragontrail glass that is more durable.

Dragontrail is a High Ion-Exchange (HIE) aluminosilicate glass with better strength and scratch resistance. The screen is mounted on a similarly strong magnesium mount that can withstand some wear and tear. Ford fielded this common complaint for the last model, hopefully alleviating the issue in the future.

The 2023 Mustang Mach-E has a standard-range battery and an extended-range battery. Ford says you can expect 250 miles of range for the standard Select trim with rear-wheel drive. The California Route 1 has all-wheel drive and an extended-range battery, and it travels around 312 miles. That’s enough range for most drivers, as the average commute is only around 30 miles daily.

Ford’s electric Mustang SUV is cool (literally)

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has 64.4 cubic feet of space in the trunk and the frunk. Ford says that is about 180 bags of ice, which can be used in the trunk to keep things cold. It is water-resistant and even has a drain, so leave your Yeti cooler behind.

Even though the frunk is probably not a make-or-break feature for shoppers, we appreciate using recycled materials like yogurt cups. It sounds like a small change, but every little bit helps. Plus, who doesn’t want a trunk that doubles as a cooler? I certainly do.