Dr. Deborah Mielewski helms plastics research at Ford and established the automaker's biomaterials department in 2001. Her work involves finding new ways to find natural substitutes for petroleum-based materials. Her team has been instrumantal in introducing and developing soy-based polyurethane foam, nylon carpeting made from post-consumer waste, plastic reinforced with wheat straw, fabrics made from recycled denim, and more. "When my mentors retired and I became the leader of plastics research, I have to admit, I felt a little uncomfortable with the role," Mielewski says. "I viewed myself as an environmentalist, and knew that most environmentalists detested plastic. It ends up in the ocean, filling landfills and never going away. Yet, it is an important material for modern life. I thought to myself that if I could make an impact on making plastics better for the environment that I would really be doing something valuable." Search “Design-Within-Research.html” from Your Next Car Might Literally Be Made of Money

Search “Design-Within-Research.html”

Dr. Deborah Mielewski helms plastics research at Ford and established the automaker's biomaterials department in 2001. Her work involves finding new ways to find natural substitutes for petroleum-based materials. Her team has been instrumantal in introducing and developing soy-based polyurethane foam, nylon carpeting made from post-consumer waste, plastic reinforced with wheat straw, fabrics made from recycled denim, and more.

"When my mentors retired and I became the leader of plastics research, I have to admit, I felt a little uncomfortable with the role," Mielewski says. "I viewed myself as an environmentalist, and knew that most environmentalists detested plastic. It ends up in the ocean, filling landfills and never going away. Yet, it is an important material for modern life. I thought to myself that if I could make an impact on making plastics better for the environment that I would really be doing something valuable."