Carmaker Ford Motor and ketchup producer Heinz will team up to manufacture plastic car parts of tomato fibers, Time magazine said.
According to developers of the project, plant-based plastic would contribute to reduction of the use of petroleum products and also help to shrink the negative impact of the automotive industry on the environment.
The cooperation is as much advantageous for Heinz since the company will be able to get rid of industrial waste, The Wall Street Journal reported.
"Our goal is to develop a strong, lightweight material that meets our vehicle requirements, while at the same time reducing our overall environmental impact," said Ellen Lee, plastics research technical specialist for Ford.
The innovative idea has the kitschy tagline “you say tomato; we say tom-auto”. The research is in its early stages. The date when tomato car parts will be released is unknown.
Ford is actively exploring the possibility of producing bio-plastic material for vehicles. The auto giant is having talks with other companies like Coca-Cola, Nike, and Procter&Gamble to explore new ways of producing parts for its cars.