• by Tanya Gazdik , Staff Writer, July 19, 2016

Business, like politics, sometimes creates unlikely bedfellows. But in this case, the unique partnership between an automaker and a tequila maker is not motivated solely by financial gain.

In an effort to offset the use of petrochemicals and reduce carbon emissions, Ford Motor Company is partnering with Jose Cuervo to research the use of the agave plant's versatile byproduct to create sustainable materials for vehicles. After agave plants are used to produce tequila, the leftover agave fibers are given a “second chance” by being recycled into bio-plastic materials.

Researchers are testing the material’s durability and heat resistance for potential use in vehicle interior and exterior components such as wiring harnesses and storage bins. Ford says initial assessments suggest the material holds great promise due to its durability and aesthetic qualities. 

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. 

Success in developing the sustainable composite could reduce the weight of car parts, helping to improve fuel economy and could reduce the use of petrochemicals, decreasing the overall impact of vehicles on the environment.

This isn’t the first time the automaker has looked to natural sources of potential materials.  

Ford worked with Heinz in 2014 to explore the use of tomato fiber to create a more sustainable bio-plastic material for wiring brackets and storage bins in vehicles. In 2012, Ford also collaborated with Heinz, Coca-Cola, Nike, and Procter & Gamble to form the Plant PET Technology Collaborative (PTC), a strategic working group focused on accelerating the development and use of 100% plant-based PET materials and fiber in their products.

Thelatest collaboration with Jose Cuervo builds on Ford’s #FarmtoCar initiative and further demonstrates the company’s innovative approach to product and environmental stewardship, as well as its ongoing commitment to sustainability, says Debbie Mielewski, Ford senior technical leader, sustainability research department.

Ford began researching the use of sustainable materials in its vehicles in 2000. Today, the automaker uses eight sustainable-based materials in its vehicles, including soy foam, castor oil, wheat straw, kenaf fiber, cellulose, wood, coconut fiber and rice hulls.

“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.”

According to the United Nations Environment Program, 5 billion metric tons 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. 

“We are committed to making our operations as energy efficient as possible by effectively managing our use of water and energy, as well as avoiding waste in our facilities, to reduce our overall environmental impact,” Mielewski tells Marketing: Automotive.

Ford is extremely active on the biomaterials front, she says. 

“In addition to our work with Jose Cuervo and Heinz, we are developing a range of bioplastics using soybeans, wheat straw and even captured carbon dioxide,” Mielewski says. “This is a key aspect of our sustainability strategy to reduce the use of petroleum-based plastics in our vehicles and further improve the sustainability of our vehicles."

Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford and the great-grandson of the company’s founder Henry Ford, has made the environment a priority for many years.

“When I began speaking out about environmental issues several decades ago, many in the business world thought I was eccentric or naive, while others were skeptical of my motivation and sincerity,” Bill Ford writes in a blog. “But those views changed as our company engaged more fully with environmentalists to discuss shared concerns not only about the customers and stakeholders of today, but also those of the future. We were able to make significant progress in designing and building more sustainable vehicles, which in turn, led to sustained success in the marketplace.”

Earlier this year, the Ethisphere Institute announced its 2016 list of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. Ford was the only automaker to earn the recognition.

Sometimes, practicing what you preach pays off.