Ford looking to use tequila byproduct for making car parts

Ford Motor Company is teaming up with Mexican tequila manufacturer, Jose Cuervo, to explore the use of the latter’s agave plant byproduct in developing more sustainable bioplastics for Ford vehicles.

Ford and Jose Cuervo, which has been making tequila for more than 220 years, are testing the bioplastic for use in vehicle interior and exterior components such as wiring harnesses, HVAC units and storage bins. Initial assessments suggest the material holds great promise due to its durability and aesthetic qualities. Success in developing a sustainable composite could reduce vehicle weight and lower energy consumption while paring the use of petrochemicals and the impact of vehicle production on the environment.

Commenting on the technology initiative Debbie Mielewski, Ford senior technical leader, Sustainability Research department said, “At Ford, we aim to reduce our impact on the environment. As a leader in the sustainability space, we are developing new technologies to efficiently employ discarded materials and fibers, while potentially reducing the use of petrochemicals and light-weighting our vehicles for desired fuel economy.”

The Agave plant

The growth cycle of the agave plant is a minimum seven-year process. Once harvested, the heart of the plant is roasted, before grinding and extracting its juices for distillation. Jose Cuervo uses a portion of the remaining agave fibers as compost for its farms, and local artisans make crafts and agave paper from the remnants. 

Now, as part of Jose Cuervo’s broader sustainability plan, the tequila maker is joining forces with the automaker to develop a new way to use its remnant fibers.  

Sonia Espinola, director of heritage for Cuervo Foundation and master tequilera said, “Jose Cuervo is proud to be working with Ford to further develop our agave sustainability plan. We could never have imagined the hundreds of agave plants we were cultivating as a small family business would eventually multiply to millions. This collaboration brings two great companies together to develop innovative, earth-conscious materials.”

The collaboration with Jose Cuervo is the latest progress in Ford’s approach towards the use of biomaterials. The American carmaker began researching the use of sustainable materials in its vehicles in 2000. Today, the company uses eight sustainable-based materials in its vehicles including soy foam, castor oil, wheat straw, kenaf fiber, cellulose, wood, coconut fiber and rice hulls.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, 5 billion metric tonnes of agricultural biomass waste is produced annually. A byproduct of agriculture, the supply of materials is abundant and often underutilized. Yet the materials can be relatively low cost, and can help manufacturers to offset the use of glass fibers and talc for more sustainable, lightweight products.  

“There are about 400 pounds of plastic on a typical car. Our job is to find the right place for a green composite like this to help our impact on the planet. It is work that I’m really proud of, and it could have broad impact across numerous industries,” concluded Mielewski.

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