EPA Honors Recipients of 2009 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards

06-25-2009: For the 14th year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is recognizing chemical technologies developed by leading researchers and industrial innovators who are making significant contributions to pollution prevention in the United States.

The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards are given in five categories: Academic, Small Business, Greener Synthetic Pathways, Greener Reaction Conditions and Designing Greener Chemicals. The 2009 Award winners are:

- Professor Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa.

- Virent Energy Systems, Inc., Madison, Wis.

- Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, Tenn.

- CEM Corporation, Matthews, N.C

- Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, jointly with Cook Composites and Polymers Company, North Kansas City, Mo.

EPA's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge promotes research and development of less-hazardous alternatives to existing technologies that reduce or eliminate waste, particularly hazardous waste, in industrial production. An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society selected the winners from nearly 100 nominated technologies.