Ford launches project to produce plastic from coffee bean husks

The U.S. automotive giant has struck a partnership deal with McDonald’s to recycle coffee bean husks into plastic substances suitable for different in-car components – and even certain parts under the hood.

Ford has conducted a study earlier that showed that coffee peel actually made an excellent strengthening agent for plastic materials. The technological principle sounds trivial: first, the husks are subjected to some thermal treatment in a low-oxygen environment. Then they get mixed up with special additives and polymers. The end product looks like pellets suitable for molding into various final shapes. The properties of the pellets enable their use even for drivetrain components, let alone such trivial things as cabin trim or headlight housings.

McDonald’s will be providing the source material for the project whose declared mission is the attainment of circular economy.