All For Olives: Ford working on using discarded olive tree waste to produce car parts

Toronto, Ontario — Ford Motor Co. is continuing to work on using discarded olive tree waste and bio composites to produce car parts and reduce plastic waste.

According to the automaker, the waste used includes olive tree branches, twigs and leaves in a process that blends these organic materials with bio composites and then molds them into the desired parts.

This initiative was originally inspired by a trial conducted as part of the COMPOlive project, which aims to bring about environmental change in olive production through recycling and support for a circular economy in both agriculture and manufacturing.

For Ford’s trial, olive tree waste was sourced from olive groves in Andalusia, Spain. The automaker tested the usability and durability of the car parts generated from the recycled product and then further generated prototypes of specifically footrests consisting of 40 percent fibres and 60 percent recycled polypropylene plastic.

In a press release, Ford commented that during the testing phase, engineers were able to manufacture car parts that were both “robust and durable.”

While currently, the initiative produces only footrests and accessory products, Ford is now exploring the mass production of car parts made from discarded olive tree waste for use in electric vehicles.