Not so crazy when you hear what Ford is using to make cars these days

They say you are what you eat. According to Alyson Penn, of Business Insider magazine, “… we may be driving what we eat,” too. In particular, she indicates that Ford Motor Company is partnering with Heinz, the makers of that oh-so-slow ketchup marketed with “Anticipation” back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, to build car parts from tomato byproducts.

The idea was that Ford will use dried tomato skins to make wiring brackets and storage bins.

Penn’s article was published in 2014. A 2017 article in Fortune magazine indicates that the program was a success and that Ford is now making parts out of tomatoes. In fact, that article goes on to state that Ford also makes parts out of shredded dollar bills.

Ford calls these Bio-Materials. The goal is to replace processes where parts are made from petroleum-based products. Petroleum is used in the manufacture of plastic, as well as many other products. Ranken-Energy has a list of 155 products that are made with petroleum, which isn’t to say there aren’t any others. The list ranges from gasoline (of course), to dentures, cold cream, football helmets, detergents, food preservatives, perfumes and ballpoint pens.

The benefit of making parts out of biodegradable products, such as tomato skins, is obvious. According to a 2014 article in Smithsonian magazine, Heinz “processes more than two million tons of tomatoes” every year. Portions of those tomatoes, including the skins, were waste. By collaborating with Ford, there is now a viable use for tomato by products.

Penn’s article lists several other biodegradables that are used to replace petroleum in manufacturing processes, including:

• “Rice hull-filled electrical cowl brackets
• “Cellulose fiber-reinforced console components
• “Coconut-based composite materials
• “Recycled cotton for carpeting and seat fabrics
• “Soy foam seat cushions and head restraints …”

The Fortune article also lists:

• Bamboo
• Wheat
• “and nearly a dozen different types of cuttings to make reliable car parts”

According to Fortune, Ford has also partnered with Coca-Cola, Proctor and Gamble and Nike to research other biodegradable products that can be used to make car parts without petroleum. Sounds like a sweet deal, especially if they come up with parts made of sugar.