Buying a car is not exactly what you would call a very eco-friendly choice. After all, depending on how it's manufactured, it will probably contribute in more ways than one to greenhouse gas emissions or material waste. In the case of the Ford Bronco Sport, buying one could mean ridding the ocean from plastic pollution.

The Escape-based Ford Bronco Sport may not have the same amount of hype as the proper Bronco off-roader, but it's still a compact unibody crossover that's gotten enough interest due to having a degree of off-road capability that only a Jeep Compass Trailhawk is capable of. But here's another reason why you might be interested in a Ford Bronco Sport--its parts are made from recycled ocean plastic.

Ford is proud to highlight that they're the first automaker to do this. The recycled ocean plastic parts are turned into wiring harness clips, which fasten to the sides of the Bronco Sport's second-row seats. These parts guide the wires that power the side-curtain airbags.

Each part weighs just five grams, which definitely does not sound like a lot, but when counting how many Bronco Sports are sold, this can add up to a hefty amount of plastic that's harvested from the oceans.

Ford says that the strength and durability of the recycled material are equal to that of previously used petroleum-based parts, but with a 10 percent cost savings and requiring less energy to produce. Despite spending time in salt water and sunlight, Ford assures that the material is as strong and durable as petroleum-based clips.

In the future, Ford will also use recycled ocean plastic for its transmission brackets, wire shields, and floor side rails. Ford is proud to highlight its achievement in creating a sustainable manufacturing process for one of its most popular models currently on sale today.

With a Bronco Sport, Ford shows that being sustainable doesn't always mean switching to an electric vehicle (EV). Now, before I start to sound like some Greenpeace activist, is this eco-friendly manufacturing step enough to persuade you to buy a Ford Bronco Sport?