Ford and Heinz are working together to research the ability of leftover tomatoes, such as peels, skins, seeds and stems to make car parts. While research is still in the early stages, the idea has already been validated and people are excited about the potential of tomato fibers and skins entering the automobile industry.
Ellen Lee, plastics research technical specialist for Ford, says, “We are exploring whether this food processing byproduct makes sense for an automotive application. Our goal is to develop a strong, lightweight material that meets our vehicle requirements, while at the same time reducing our overall environmental impact.”
