Ford, Jose Cuervo Team Up to Make Car Parts from Agave
19 Julho 2016 - 1:01AM
Business Wire
- Ford Motor Company and Jose Cuervo® are
exploring the use of agave plants to develop a sustainable
bioplastic material to incorporate in vehicles, giving the agave
fiber byproduct a second chance at usefulness
- 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
- Success in developing the sustainable
composite could reduce the weight of car parts, helping to improve
fuel economy; the new material could alleviate the use of
petrochemicals, decreasing the overall impact of vehicles on the
environment
Ford Motor Company is teaming up with Jose Cuervo® to explore
the use of the tequila producer’s agave plant byproduct to develop
more sustainable bioplastics to employ in Ford vehicles.
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Ford Motor Company is teaming up with
Jose Cuervo® to explore the use of the tequila producer’s agave
plant byproduct to develop more sustainable bioplastics to employ
in Ford vehicles. (Photo: Business Wire)
Ford and Jose Cuervo 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. Success in developing a sustainable composite could
reduce vehicle weight and lower energy consumption, 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
tequila maker is joining forces with the automaker 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 Motor Company, Jose Cuervo is family-owned and
operated. Founded in 1795, it has been making tequila for more than
220 years with the same experience, craftsmanship and recipes that
have been handed down generation through generation.
The collaboration with Jose Cuervo is the latest example of
Ford’s innovative approach to product and environmental stewardship
through the use of biomaterials. 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.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, 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.
“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.”
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company
based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 201,000 employees and 67
plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing,
manufacturing, marketing, financing and servicing a full line of
Ford cars, trucks, SUVs and electrified vehicles, as well as
Lincoln luxury vehicles. At the same time, Ford is aggressively
pursuing emerging opportunities through Ford Smart Mobility, the
company’s plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous
vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics. The
company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit
Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products
worldwide or Ford Motor Credit Company, visit
www.corporate.ford.com.
About Jose Cuervo Tequila
Jose Cuervo® is the largest and most widely distributed
tequila brand in the U.S. and the world. The Jose Cuervo®
portfolio of tequilas includes Jose Cuervo Especial®, the
world’s best-selling tequila, Jose Cuervo Tradicional®, Jose
Cuervo® Reserva de la Familia®, Jose Cuervo Golden
Margarita®, Authentic Jose Cuervo Margaritas® and
Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix®. Jose Cuervo® is
distributed in the U.S. by Proximo, a privately owned, premium
spirits importer founded in 2007 and based in Jersey City, New
Jersey.
For news releases, related materials and
high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160718006363/en/
Ford Motor CompanyJohn Cangany313.317.7691jcangany@ford.comorFor
Jose CuervoDanielle Katz646.895.7006Danielle.Katz@exposure.net
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