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
Jose Cuervo® is the most widely-recognized tequila distributor in the world. You know it from nights at the bar, or perhaps associate a lime-topped Jose Cuervo margarita with a beach vacation.
Ford Motor Company sees another side to Jose Cuervo. Instead of looking at the end product, tequila, Ford is looking at byproducts from the manufacturing of that tequila. Specifically, agave fiber.
Tequila is made of fermented and distilled agave nectar, but what happens to the rest of the agave plant -- leaves, stems, pulp? Ford thinks these leftover natural fibers may have the properties needed to make eco-friendly bioplastics for use in cars. The Ford Flex already uses a similar bioplastic made with wheat straw in its storage bins.
"At Ford, we aim to reduce our impact on the environment," said Debbie Mielewski, senior technical leader of Ford's materials sustainability research. "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."
Visit David McDavid Ford to learn more about Ford's green initiatives, and browse for efficient new vehicles.