EPA Opens Green Chemistry Challenge Awards

The Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov) is accepting nominations for the 2008 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. The awards are designed to recognize innovative chemical technologies that incorporate green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture, and use.

According to the EPA, nominated technologies should reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances from a chemical product or process. Any individual, group, or organization, both nonprofit and for-profit, including academia and industry, may nominate a green chemistry technology for these awards. Self-nominations are welcome and expected.

Typically, five awards are given each year — one to an academic researcher, one to a small business, and the others to larger companies for specific areas of green chemistry. Each nominated technology must have reached a significant milestone within the past five years in the United States. For examples of last year”s nominations and award winners, visit www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenchemistry/pubs/pgcc/past.html.