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ford makes car parts from olive tree waste and biocomposites to reduce plastic use

Olive tree waste and biocomposites for ford’s car parts

 

Ford is advancing its efforts to produce car parts from recycled and discarded olive tree waste, including branches, twigs, and leaves, by blending them with biocomposites to reduce plastic usage in manufacturing and avoid burning refuse. This initiative is inspired by the trial conducted as part of the COMPOlive project, which aims to bring about environmental change in olive production through recycling and support for the circular economy.

 

For Ford’s trial of producing car parts from discarded sources, the materials from olive tree waste were sourced from the olive groves in Andalusia, Spain, an area believed to have the highest production of olive oil in the world, according to the local government of the region. Subsequently, Ford tested the usability and durability of the car parts generated from olive tree waste at their headquarters.

ford recycled car parts olive tree waste
images courtesy of Ford

 

 

Fibers and recycled plastic for car-part prototypes

 

Engineers at Ford’s European headquarters in Cologne, Germany, utilized simulation technology to assess the usability of olive trees in terms of durability, strength, and moldability. Once confirmed, they proceeded with the prototypes of footrests, consisting of 40 percent fibers and 60 percent recycled polypropylene plastic.

 

These prototypes were placed inside a machine that transformed them into a substance. The liquified form was heated, and using an injector, it was molded into the chosen shape of the car parts. Ford states that using olive tree waste to create car parts can help reduce the plastic used in such components and contribute to cleaner air in the local area by avoiding burning as a means of waste disposal. 

 

Engineers produced prototype footrests and parts of the boot area using olive tree waste. Ford mentions that during the testing phase, the engineers were able to manufacture car parts that were both robust and durable. As of publishing the story, Ford is now exploring the mass production of car parts made from discarded olive tree waste for use in electric vehicles.

ford recycled car parts olive tree waste
Ford has already produced car parts from recycled olive tree waste

ford recycled car parts olive tree waste
during the trial, Ford tested out footrests and parts of the car boot produced from recycled olive tree waste

ford recycled car parts olive tree waste
the production and trial took place at Ford’s European headquarters in Cologne, Germany

ford recycled car parts olive tree waste
recycling olive tree waste can help avoid burning as a means of trash disposal

ford recycled car parts olive tree waste
the prototypes of footrests consist of 40 percent fibers and 60 percent recycled polypropylene plastic

ford-compolive-project-car-parts-olive-tree-waste-reduce-plastic-use-designboom-ban2

these prototypes were placed inside a machine that transformed them into a substance

ford recycled car parts olive tree waste
the materials from olive tree waste were sourced from the olive groves in Andalusia, Spain

ford recycled car parts olive tree waste
Ford states that using olive tree waste to create car parts can help reduce plastic use

ford-compolive-project-car-parts-olive-tree-waste-reduce-plastic-use-designboom-ban

Ford’s car parts using recycled olive tree waste is now being evaluated for mass production

 

project info:

 

name: COMPOlive Project

company: Ford

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