Ford Motor Company has found another way to make their cars greener, lighter, and overall more sustainable -- they just added a shot of Jose Cuervo. The car manufacturer has teamed with the spirits maker to create car parts from the fibers from the agave plants used in the Mexican tequila. Ford has found that the leftovers from these plants can be used to create a light, cost-effective bioplastic that can be used in many of the models in their fleet.
Jose Cuervo harvests between 200-300 tons of agave plants daily. They roast the heart of the plant, then grind it and extract the juices for distillation. Some of what's left is sold to local artisans to make crafts and paper or used as compost, but much of what remains is simply burned and thrown away.
Now, Ford is able to pay local farmers for the unused agave fibers and provide them with a new source of revenue. Ford the chops up these fibers and compounds them into a durable plastic material. The automaker has already stated they plan to use this new bioplastic for cargo bins, HVAC systems, and wiring harnesses.
Ford using recycled materials in their cars is really nothing new. They have been using eco-friendly parts and pieces since 2000. The company has used old denim and T-shirts as interior padding, old tires in seals and gaskets, and soy-based foams as seat cushions and headrests.
"There are about 400 pounds of plastic on a typical car," said Debbie Mielewski, Ford senior technical leader, sustainability research department. "Our job is to find the right place for a green composite like this to help our impact on the planet."
NAFA Fleet Management Association
http://www.nafa.org/