Ford Cushions Environmental Impact With Soy

Ford is continuing to polish its green image by incorporating clean power and replacing petroleum with soy in manufacturing, and investors are taking notice.

Last summer Ford announced it would use soy in the seat cushions of its 2008 Mustang as part of its green strategy. The company says using soy cuts the environmental impact of keep your tush comfy by more than 75 percent.

Ford will put soy in the seats of more than 45,000 vehicles this year, including Ford F-150s, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. The company claims that the cost is the same, so why not go all soy?

Ford also expanded the use of wind power by adding a third turbine to its power generation mix at its Dagenham Diesel Center where it makes diesel engines.

One socially responsible investor group that has stock in Ford wants GM to follow its green lead. The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility wants GM to be like Ford and disclose the details on how it will cut emissions by 30 percent as promised.

Investors increasingly like to feel good about with whom they make money, and perception is all that's needed to gird a sagging stock. Look for sustainably minded investors to use the power of the purse to sway slow moving corporations.