Ford begins testing bamboo in vehicles
Car manufacturer Ford is working with suppliers to integrate bamboo into its cars. The fast-growing plant is renowned for its impressive tensile strength and ability to withstand fierce heat. Ford has a history of using sustainable products, from recycled plastics to make carpeting to Soy-based foams for seats, and recently worked with tequila producer Jose Cuervo to explore uses of its agave plant byproduct.
Over the past several years, has Ford worked with suppliers to evaluate the viability of using bamboo in vehicle interiors and to make extra strong parts by combining it with plastic. The team has found that bamboo performs comprehensively better than other tested synthetic and natural fibers in a range of materials tests, from tensile strength tests to impact strength tests. It’s also been heated to more than 212 ˚F Fahrenheit to ensure it can maintain its integrity.



Over the past several years, Ford worked with suppliers to evaluate the viability of using bamboo in vehicle interiors and to make extra strong parts by combining it with plastic. The team has found that bamboo performs comprehensively better than other tested synthetic and natural fibers in a range of materials tests, from tensile strength tests to impact strength tests. Click to enlarge.

The benefits of bamboo have been recognized for more than a century—Thomas Edison even experimented with it when making the first light bulb. In building, its tensile strength is well known, as it can rival or even better some types of metal. And, because it grows to full maturity in just two to five years—compared to up to decades for other trees—bamboo also regenerates easily.

While tests on bamboo continue, Ford is already making use of sustainable and recycled materials. The company recently announced it is working with Jose Cuervo to explore the use of the tequila producer’s agave plant byproduct to develop more sustainable bioplastics to employ in Ford vehicles.

Ford uses several sustainable materials including: