The agave plant is used commercially in the production of tequila. This multi-million-dollar industry produces almost 96 million liters annually, leaving 289 million tons of bagasse, of which 30% is discarded.

The waste material is the perfect bonding component to create a thin but resistant layer of bioplastic, similar to PVC.

Ford Motor company teamed up with Jose Cuervo to use the tequila producer’s agave plant byproduct to develop more sustainable bioplastics to employ in Ford vehicles. The material is being tested for use in vehicle interior and exterior components such as wiring harnesses, HVAC units and storage bins.

While biobased plastic materials are recommended for the production of durable, reusable, and recyclable products, such as containers, household products, the automotive industry, textiles, construction, etc., biodegradable plastics are recommended to manufacture disposable single-use products, such as covers and disposable plates, bags, flexible packaging, and so on.

Bioplastics can be biobased, biodegradable, or both. They offer the same benefits of sustainability, reduction of non-renewable resources, and reduction of CO2 emissions in all circumstances.

Can be strong and hard or more soft and flexible. The thin agave fiber film is capable of being molded, sewn and even screen printed, being a potential element for the textile industry.