Bottoms up: Ford, Jose Cuervo explore car parts from agave

DEARBORN, Mich. (July 19, 2016) — Ford Motor Co. is teaming up with the distiller of Jose Cuervo to explore the use of the tequila producer's agave plant byproduct to develop more sustainable bioplastics for use in Ford vehicles.

Dearborn-based Ford and the tequila maker 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, according to the companies. Success in developing a sustainable composite could reduce vehicle weight and lower energy consumption, they said in a press release, while paring the use of petrochemicals and the impact of vehicle production on the environment.

“At Ford, we aim to reduce our impact on the environment,” said Debbie Mielewski, Ford senior technical leader, sustainability research department. “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 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 company is joining forces with the auto maker to develop a new way to use its remnant fibers.

“Jose Cuervo is proud to be working with Ford to further develop our agave sustainability plan,” said Sonia Espinola, director of heritage for Cuervo Foundation and master tequilera. “As the world's No. 1-selling tequila, 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.”

Like Ford, Jose Cuervo is family-owned and operated. Founded in 1795, it has been making tequila for more than 220 years.

The company's collaboration with the auto maker highlights Ford's use of biomaterials and research since 2000 in the use of sustainable materials in its vehicles. Today, according to Ford, it uses eight sustainable-based materials in its vehicles including soy foam, castor oil, wheat straw, kenaf fiber, cellulose, wood, coconut fiber and rice hulls.

Ford and Jose Cuervo cited United Nations Environment Programme data that 5 billion metric tons of agricultural biomass waste is produced annually. The companies said the supply of materials — a byproduct of agriculture — is abundant and often underutilized and, due to their relatively low cost, “can help manufacturers to offset the use of glass fibers and talc for more sustainable, lightweight products.”

Ms. Mielewski said there are about 400 pounds of plastic on a typical car and Ford's 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.”

Ford has about 201,000 employees worldwide and operates 67 plants.

Jose Cuervo is distributed in the U.S. by Jersey City, N.J.-based Proximo, a privately owned, premium spirits importer founded in 2007.