• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Forum
  • Design Studio
  • Upholstery Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsors

The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Ford is Making Car Parts from McDonald’s Coffee… Seriously

December 10, 2019 By Nadeem Muaddi Leave a Comment

The Hog Ring - Ford is Making Car Parts from McDonald's Coffee Chaff

Ford and McDonald’s say they want to give cars a “caffeine boost” by partnering on a project to transform coffee chaff into interior components.

“Every year, millions of pounds of coffee chaff – the dried skin of the bean – naturally comes off during the roasting process. Together, Ford and McDonald’s can provide an innovative new home to a significant portion of that material,” Ford said in a statement.

“The companies found that chaff can be converted into a durable material to reinforce certain vehicle parts. By heating the chaff to high temperatures under low oxygen, mixing it with plastic and other additives and turning it into pellets, the material can be formed into various shapes.”

The resulting components will be 20 percent lighter and use 25 percent less energy to manufacture, Ford said.

The automaker is currently using the coffee chaff to make headlamp housings. Eventually, it will move onto undisclosed “interior components,” which we assume will be plastic interior trim.

Here’s a (slightly cheesy) video in which Ford explains the process:

For its part, McDonald’s says it will “direct a significant portion” of its coffee chaff in North America to Ford to be used in car parts.

“By finding a way to use coffee chaff as a resource, we are elevating how companies together can increase participation in the closed-loop economy,” said Ian Olson, senior director for global sustainability at McDonald’s.

Coffee chaff is just the latest in a decade-long trend of transforming garbage into car parts — including plastic ocean waste, water bottles, Christmas trees, newspapers, dollar bills, and even crusty old pants. 

Of course, the list pales in comparison to another trend, in which automakers and suppliers are using random plants and fruits – like grapes, apples and pineapples – to create “vegan” interior fabrics and components.

The trends, it appears, are well intentioned, but largely gimmicky and designed to appeal to eco-conscious consumers. After all, if automakers really wanted to reduce the environmental impact of their vehicles, they’d phase out gas-guzzling trucks and make electric and hybrid cars more affordable.

But hey, coffee bean plastic is cool too… I guess.

Filed Under: Archive, Green Upholstery Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Car Interiors, Ford Motor Company, McDonald's

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

THR Sponsors

Haartz Right Rail Ad - 12
NC Sewing Machines
Miami Corporation
Top Down Group
Apex Leather
  • GAHH Automotive
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • Albright's Supply
  • Hyde Leather
  • Keyston Bros

THR Favorites

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Design Studio

Design Studio: Full Generic Interiors

Last month we launched The Hog Ring Design … [more] about Design Studio: Full Generic Interiors

Auto Trimmers Sharing Lessons

Wisdom often comes from experience, and a lot … [more] about Auto Trimmers Sharing Lessons

The Hog Ring - Why are Headrests Difficult to Remove

Why are Headrests Difficult to Remove?

Ever wonder why some headrests are difficult … [more] about Why are Headrests Difficult to Remove?

The Hog Ring - How to Sew a Double-Piped French Seam

How to Sew a Double-Piped French Seam

If you're as obsessed with decorative … [more] about How to Sew a Double-Piped French Seam

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Classic Volkswagen Beetle Door Panel

Design Studio: VW Beetle Door Panel

Last month, we introduced two illustrations … [more] about Design Studio: VW Beetle Door Panel

The Hog Ring - Meet Shane Lile of Sewn Tight Upholstery

Meet Shane Lile of Sewn Tight Custom Interiors

Shane Lile, owner and operator of Sewn Tight … [more] about Meet Shane Lile of Sewn Tight Custom Interiors

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • Try Dinamica: A Quality Alternative to Alcantara
  • Texas Upholstery Shop Damaged in Fire
  • Miami Trimmer and Girlfriend Killed in Auto Accident
  • Profit Sharing Can Help Your Shop Attract Employees
  • Keyston Bros’ Annual Customer Appreciation Day is Almost Here!

Recent Comments

  • Eric on Browse Keyston’s 2022 Upholstery Catalog
  • MichelleMilner on You Can Wear This Rolls-Royce Dash Clock
  • Core PG on Here’s Where You Can Still Buy Alcantara
  • Duncan sande on Bentley is Hiring Apprentices and Trainees
  • Adam on Every Trim Shop Should Download These Soft Top Care Guides

Advertise With Us!

We're always looking for companies to collaborate with. Watch this short video about the benefits of sponsorship and then email us to say hi.
anal porno bangbros rus porno yaşlı porno konulu porno olgun porno porno izle sarışın porno bakire sex 69 porno

Copyright © 2022 · Magazine Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in