July 17, 2006—Leading researchers and industrial innovators were recognized recently for significant contributions in advancing pollution prevention with the 2006 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. The presidential-rank awards are given to select individuals and organizations that have made innovative science contributions with identifiable applications that result in less pollution, waste, or both in a manufacturing process.
The awards are given in five categories: Academic, Small Business, Greener Synthetic Pathways, Greener Reaction Conditions and Designing Greener Chemicals. Over the past 11 years, the winners’ work has led to the elimination of 750 million pounds of hazardous chemicals and solvents, saved more than 550 million gallons of water, and prevented more than 280 million pounds of carbon dioxide, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The recipients of this year’s awards were Galen Suppes, a professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia; Arkon Consultants of Irving, TX; NuPro Technologies of Winston Salem, NC; Merck & Company of Whitehouse Station, NJ; Codexis, Inc., of Redwood City, CA; and SC Johnson, & Son, Inc., of Racine, WI.
EPA’s Green Chemistry Challenge promotes research to develop less-toxic alternatives to existing technologies, and to reduce or eliminate waste generation in industrial production. More than 90 nominations were reviewed by an independent panel of technical experts.
For more information on EPA’s green chemistry program, visit online.
