Ford & Heinz to Make Cars From Ketchup

When they make ketchup there's stuff left over that they used to throw away made up mostly of tomato skins and tomato fibre. Now they've figured out that this yucky goop can be processed into bioplastic material, so Ford and Heinz revealed this week the launch of a new project that aims to find out if those bioplastics could be used in making parts for cars and other vehicles. 

Each year, Heinz processes more than two million tons of tomatoes for its ketchup, but is invariably left with peels, stems, and seeds that cannot be used in the production process. However, separately the company has been working with Ford as part of a coalition of firms that also includes Coca-Cola, Nike and Proctor & Gamble to develop 100 percent plant-based plastics that eliminate the use of oil.

Now the fruits of their labor are starting to pay off and the two companies have agreed to examine if waste tomatoes could provide a sustainable feedstock for bioplastic production. If the project proves successful, Ford believes that tomato-based plastic could be used to make wiring brackets in a vehicle or the storage bin that drivers use to hold coins and other small objects.

"We are delighted that the technology has been validated," said Vidhu Nagpal, associate director, packaging R&D for Heinz, revealing the research had already delivered some promising results. "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 per cent plant-based plastics."