In addition to being used for rugs and rope, sisal fiber (Agave sisalana) is being used to produce car parts, like bumpers, mirror holders and panels, according to Brazil's National Industrial Education Service. The fiber is produced by a plant common to Brazil's northeastern region and can replace up to 40 percent of the plastic used in automobiles, which can total 200 kilograms.

“The Ford factory in Bahia has expressed great interest,” said Joseane Dantas, author of the study.

The northeastern Bahian state produces 120,000 tons of sisal fiber per year. “If Ford alone would use it in its cars, we would have to double production, creating jobs and boosting local development,” Dantas told Tierramérica.

The advantage of sisal is that it is cultivable, biodegradable, saves energy in production and is easily recyclable. It is also used to manufacture furniture and in construction.