Ford Motor Comp. announced that it has partnered with H.J. Heinz Comp. to build vehicles out of dried tomato fibers.
The companies are looking to turn tomato fibers into sustainable bioplastics that could be used to make parts of vehicles, according to CNET. Ford is looking into how the bioplastics could be used for wiring brackets and storage bins inside cars.
"Our goal is to develop a strong, lightweight material that meets our vehicle requirements, while at the same time reducing our overall environmental impact," said Ellen Lee, plastics research technical specialist at Ford.
Heinz is estimated to be the top ketchup maker in the U.S., Daily Tech reported. Each year, the Pittsburgh, Penn.-based company uses 2 million tomatoes to make ketchup and sells 650 million bottles of ketchup. Despite the amount of ketchup being made, Heinz wastes a lot of material while making ketchup, such as steams, seeds and peels.
Ford and Heinz have worked together before, having teamed up with Nike Inc., The Coca Cola Comp., and The Protector & Gamble Comp. to create biodegradable plastics made from tomato waste.
"We are delighted that the technology has been validated," said Vidhu Nagpal, associate director of packaging and R&D at Heinz. "Although we are in the very early stages of research, and many questions remain, we are excited about the possibilities this could produce for both Heinz and Ford, and the advancement of sustainable 100% plant-based plastics."
Ford is currently looking to reduce its reliance on petroleum-based plastics in its vehicles, CNET reported.
The automaker has already started to use different materials to manufacture its cars, such as electrical cowl brackets filled with rice hulls, soy-foam cushions, and console components supported by cellulose fibers.
Other "bio-based" materials that Ford offers in its vehicles include recycled cotton for seat and floor fabrics along with composite materials made from coconuts, Daily Tech reported.
The automaker is also looking into making some of the rubber in its vehicles out of dandelions.
