This Women’s History Month, we wish to highlight several women in the field who have made contributions to progress of plastics. From groundbreaking research and product development to leadership roles in sustainability and manufacturing, women have been at the forefront of transforming this sector. Their stories of perseverance, creativity, and leadership not only inspire future generations but highlight the impact women have made in shaping the world of plastics.
Check out the achievements of a few extraordinary women, celebrating their contributions to the industry.
Mary Elizabeth Anderson: Mary Elizabeth Anderson was born in 1866. She was an American inventor best known for her groundbreaking wind shield wiper system. Anderson's invention paved the way for modern wind shield wipers, improving road safety worldwide. In 1922, Cadillac was the first car brand to begin installing a wiper as standard equipment on its vehicles!
Stephanie Kwolek: A Polish American chemist born in the twenties, discovered the first of a family of synthetic fibers with strength and stiffness. She identified poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, a material known for its exceptional strength and stiffness. Over her 40-year tenure at DuPont, her research culminated in the creation of Kevlar in 1965 - a type of aramid fiber which is extremely strong and lightweight, with resistance to corrosion and heat. Kwolek's contributions revolutionized the field of plastics, paving the way for new applications in industries such as aerospace and automotive.
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Bessie Virginia Blount: Bessie Virginia Blount was a pioneering African American inventor known for her contributions to the field of rehabilitation therapy. She worked as a licensed physiotherapist at Bronx Hospital where she cared for World War II veterans and amputees. Her most recognized invention was the feeding tube, made of plastic tubing and a valve system. Blount's use of plastics in medical devices marked a significant advancement in the field, enhancing the quality of life for countless individuals.
Mary Elliott Hill: Hill, born in 1907, was one of the first African American women to become a chemist. She was both an organic and analytical chemist and though her main research focused on the properties of ultraviolet light, she was also an early pioneer in the new science of plastics. Working alongside her husband, Carl McClellan Hill, she did groundbreaking work on ketene synthesis where her focus was on ‘monomeric ketenes’ that can undergo polymerization. This is a critical step in the creation of all plastics.
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Today, there are also a number of pioneers changing the industry. Here are a few to take note of in the 21st century!
LaShanda Korley: LaShanda Korely is a polymer scientist at the University of Delaware. Korley is driving research breakthroughs in chemical recycling by exploring new ways to catalyze the breaking down of plastics. Korley and her team experiment with chemical and enzyme applications to depolymerize polymers and recover monomers that can be used to make new products. She has also participated in research to enhance the molecular structure of polymers to strengthen the building blocks used to make plastics, gels, and 3D-printed objects.
Nzambi Matee: Nzambi Matee, a Kenyan materials engineer born in 1993, founded Gjenge Makers in 2017, a company dedicated to recycling plastic waste into sustainable construction materials like bricks. Matee's work helps fight plastic pollution while providing affordable building materials for low-income communities. She has earned recognition including the 2020 Young Champion of the Earth award from the United Nations Environment Program.
Image Credit: via Gjenge Makers
MacArthur: Ellen MacArthur is a well-known advocate in the plastics space. She founded the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, dedicated to promoting the transition to a circular economy. Some of the key initiatives address plastic pollution, advocating for the reduction, reuse, and recycling of plastics to prevent further environmental degradation. MacArthur's efforts are helping to drive change, most recently through the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, which includes more than 200 businesses across the plastics value chain, financial institutions, and NGOs.
Miranda Wang: A Canadian entrepreneur born in 1994, Wang is the CEO and co-founder of Novoloop. A company that has developed a proprietary process that breaks down polyethylene into chemical building blocks that can be synthesized into high-value products.
Image Credit: via Rolex
Let's celebrate their accomplishments and the many more which are being made today!