June 11, 2014
Alisa Priddle

Ford and Heinz have a juicy idea: They are exploring using tomato fibers for car parts.

The corporate giants are collaborating on replacing petrochemicals in plastic parts with sustainable materials made of tomato fibers. They are testing the fibers’ durability for use in vehicle wiring brackets and storage bins.

The bio-friendly composite uses dried tomato skins.

“We are exploring whether this food processing byproduct makes sense for an automotive application,” said Ellen Lee, plastics research technical specialist for Ford. “Our goal is to develop a strong, lightweight material that meets our vehicle requirements, while at the same time reducing our overall environmental impact.”

Source
Detroit Free Press