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For the third time in its long history, Ford Motor Company has initiated sustainability into the production of its automobiles.

Two weeks ago, Ford and Lear Corporation announced they will work together in the production of soy-based foam for seats beginning in the 2008 Ford Mustang.

The industry's first soy-based flexible foam will used in the seat backs and seat cushions beginning in August at the Auto Alliance International factory in Flat Rock, Michigan, home of the Ford Mustang.

Ford first used soy-based materials in The Model T. It once contained 60 pounds of soybeans in its paint and molded plastic parts. Ford again used soy foams in 2003 on the Model U concept, which featured soy-based seat cushions as well as a soy-based resin composite tailgate.

The environmental advantages of soy-foam include: a reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions when compared to current petroleum-based material, lower energy required to produce the material, up to 24 percent renewable content, and a reduction of dependence on volatile energy markets.

"Soy is a very green, renewable resource," said Debbie Mielewski, technical leader for Ford's Materials Research & Advanced Engineering Department, is a company press release. "Using soy-based foam gives us the opportunity to conserve natural resources and reduce our environmental footprint."

Most automotive manufacturers today use 100 percent petroleum-based polyol foam, according to a Ford spokesperson. Each vehicle produced contains an average of 30 pounds of petroleum-based foam. The total annual worldwide market for the foam is 9 billion pounds. Mielewski said auto manufacturers research and development of renewable, more environmentally friendly materials to produce the foam, could have a significant environmental impact.