Ford and Jose Cuervo Team to Make Parts out of Agave Leftovers

Ford is always on the lookout for ways to make plastic bits for cars in a more environmentally friendly way. The latest effort is a teamup with tequila maker Jose Cuervo, exploring the potential to use the fibers left over from the agave distillation process to create a bioplastic to be used in plastic parts for inside and outside the car.

Researchers are currently testing the plastic to see if it meets the durability and heat resistance needed to be used inside the car for storage bins, and for wiring harnesses outside of the interior. It wouldn’t do to have a plastic that couldn’t stand the heat inside the car generated during summer months, so this sort of testing is critical.

Ford figures that success here could reduce the weight of the car, improving fuel economy, and reduce the use of petrochemicals in use. Currently, much of the fiber is used as mulch for the agave field Cuervo operates and some of it is used by artisans to make other products like paper.