We may soon be seeing agaves, and their byproducts, in places besides the desert and shot glasses. Ford Motor Company is working with Jose Cuervo, the tequila maker, to take agave fibers left from the juice extraction process and incorporate them into the plastic to be used in car parts.
Debbie Mielewski is senior technical leader for Sustainable Materials Research at Ford. She said the fibers are tough and could be used in the place of glass or talc to reinforce plastics.
An added bonus?
The pleasing caramel color. Mielewski said agave trim might, one day, be an option for car's interiors.
