DEARBORN, MI—Ford Motor Co. is teaming up 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 and Jose Cuervo are testing the bioplastic for use in vehicle interior and exterior components, such as wiring harnesses, HVAC units and storage bins.

MIAMI—A chemist has developed a way to make all fossil-fuel based plastics 100 percent biodegradable.

SUNDERLAND, UK—Nissan has installed a 4.75-megawatt solar farm at its assembly plant here. Together with other renewable energy sources, the farm will generate enough power to build more than 31,000 cars every year.

DEARBORN, MI—Ford Motor Co. is developing new foam and plastic components using carbon dioxide as feedstock. Researchers expect to see the new biomaterials in production vehicles within five years.

PLANO, TX—Toyota will use solar panels at its Texas headquarters, which is currently under construction, to get 25 percent of its power from the sun.

DEARBORN, MI—Ford Motor Co. is formulating and testing new foam and plastic components that uses carbon dioxide as feedstock. Formulated with up to 50 percent CO₂-based polyols, the new materials could reduce petroleum use by more than 600 million pounds annually.

GAITHERSBURG, MD—The National Institute of Standards and Technology has created a new international standard that maps environmental aspects of manufacturing processes.

BENTON HARBOR, MI—Whirlpool Corp. plans to invest $14 million to build wind turbines at its assembly plants in Marion and Ottawa, OH.

BELVIDERE, IL—An online card game is motivating FCA assemblers here to reduce energy consumption.

DETROIT—General Motors is turning its employees’ recycled water bottles into noise-reducing fabric insulation that covers the engine in the Chevrolet Equinox. The bottles—collected from five of its Michigan facilities—are also being turned into air filtration components and insulation for winter coats for the homeless.