See how #Ford and @JoseCuervo work together to give excess agave a second chance as potential car parts. #FarmToCarhttps://t.co/OmvRv11dSj
— Ford Drive Green (@FordDriveGreen) July 19, 2016
Ford Motor Company has been at the forefront of the quest for greener, more eco-friendly materials for almost two decades. In 2000, Debbie Mielewski, senior technical leader of Ford's materials sustainability research, had the idea to make seat-cushion foam out of soybeans, instead of petroleum.
Doing so could not only reduce dependence on oil, it could provide a new revenue stream for farmers, and reduce carbon emissions by a dramatic amount.
She succeeded. All new Ford vehicles manufactured in North America use soy foam. Now, Mielewski and her team are researching dozens of other materials for their potential as car parts. The quest has brought them together with Jose Cuervo®. Agave fibers are a waste product from the tequila-making process. Rather than throwing them away, Ford may be able to use them in composite plastics.
"There are about 400 pounds of plastic on a typical car," said Mielewski. "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."
Learn more about Ford's farm-to-car mission and start driving greener at Fred Beans Ford of West Chester.