Green Chemistry Challenge Winners
On this page:
Award winners by year with links to technology summaries and podcasts (for some).
On other pages:
Disclaimer: Mention of trade names, products, or services does not convey official EPA approval, endorsement, or recommendation.
Award Winners by Year
Select a year:
2021 Award Winners
-
For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Merck & Co., Inc.
Gefapixant Citrate (summary) -
For Greener Reaction Conditions
Bristol Myers Squibb Company
Five sustainable reagents (summary) -
For Designing Greener Chemicals
Colonial Chemical
Suga®Boost surface cleaner (summary) -
For Small Business
XploSafe LLC
PhosRox, a novel sorbent (summary) - For Academic
Professor Srikanth Pilla of Clemson University
Nonisocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) foam (summary)
2020 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Genomatica
Biobased Butylene Glycol (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Merck & Co.
A Green Solution to the ProTide Synthesis Problem: Design of a Multifunctional Catalyst That Stereoselectively Assembles ProDrugs (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway Company
Biobased Formaldehyde-Free Thermoset Binder Formulation (summary) - For Small Business
Vestaron Corporation
SPEAR® Insecticide: First Member of a New Class of Biopesticides That Show Efficacy Comparable to Synthetic Insecticides (summary) - For Academic
Professor Steven Skerlos of the University of Michigan and Fusion Coolant Systems
Pure-Cut™ (summary)
2019 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Merck & Co.
Innovating for a Greener Future: Development of a Green & Sustainable Manufacturing Process for ZerbaxaTM (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
WSI
TRUpathTM (summary) - For Small Business
Kalion, Inc.
Microbially Produced High-Purity Glucaric Acid for Diverse Uses (summary) - For Academic
Professor Sanjoy Banerjee of the City University of New York
Rechargeable Alkaline Zn-MnO2 Batteries for Grid Storage Applications (summary)
2018 Award Winners
- The US EPA did not solicit nominations for the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards in 2018. However, the American Chemical Society, who co-sponsors the EPA Green Chemistry Challenge, solicited nominations and selected awardees separately from the EPA. More information about the 2018 winners can be found here.
2017 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Merck & Co., Inc.
Letermovir: A Case Study in State-of-the-Art Approaches to Sustainable Commercial Manufacturing Processes in the Pharmaceutical Industry (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Amgen Inc.
Bachem
Green Process for Commercial Manufacture of Etelcalcetide Enabled by Improved Technology for Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
The Dow Chemical Company
Papierfabrik August Koehler SE
Breakthrough Sustainable Imaging Technology for Thermal Paper (summary) - For Small Business
UniEnergy Technologies LLC
The UniSystemTM: An Advanced Vanadium Redox Flow Battery for Grid-Scale Energy Storage (summary) - For Academic
Professor Eric J. Schelter of University of Pennsylvania
Simple and Efficient Recycling of Rare Earth Elements from Consumer Materials Using Tailored Metal Complexes (summary)
2016 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
CB&I (now McDermott)
Albemarle
AlkyClean® Technology: An Inherently Safer Technology for the Production of Gasoline Alkylate (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Dow AgroSciences LLC
Instinct® Technology - Making Nitrogen Fertilizers Work More Effectively for Farmers and the Planet (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals and Specific Environmental Benefit: Climate Change
Newlight Technologies
AirCarbon: Greenhouse Gas Transformed into High-Performance Thermoplastic (summary) - For Small Business
Verdezyne
Renewable Nylon Through Commercialization of BIOLONTM DDDA (summary) - For Academic
Professor Paul J. Chirik of Princeton University
Catalysis with Earth Abundant Transition Metals (summary)
2015 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
LanzaTech Inc.
LanzaTech Gas Fermentation Process (summary and picture) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Soltex (Synthetic Oils and Lubricants of Texas)
A Novel High Efficiency Process for the Manufacture of Highly Reactive Polyisobutylene Using a Fixed Bed Solid State Catalyst Reactor System (summary and picture) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Hybrid Coating Technologies
Nanotech Industries
Hybrid Non-Isocyanate Polyurethane/Green PolyurethaneTM (summary and picture) - For Small Business
Renmatix
The Plantrose® Process: Supercritical Water as the Economic Enabler of Biobased Industry (summary and picture) - For Academic
Professor Eugene Y.-X. Chen of Colorado State University
Greener Condensation Reactions for Renewable Chemicals, Liquid Fuels, and Biodegradable Polymers (summary and picture) - For Specific Environmental Benefit: Climate Change
Algenol
The Algenol Biofuel Process: Sustainable Production of Ethanol and Green Crude (summary and picture)
2014 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Solazyme, Inc. (now Corbion)
Tailored Oils Produced from Microalgal Fermentation (summary and podcast) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
QD Vision, Inc. (technology acquired by Samsung)
Greener Quantum Dot Synthesis for Energy Efficient Display and Lighting Products (summary and podcast) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
The Solberg Company
RE-HEALINGTM Foam Concentrates–Effective Halogen-Free Firefighting (summary) - For Small Business
Amyris
Farnesane: a Breakthrough Renewable Hydrocarbon for Use as Diesel and Jet Fuel (summary and podcast) - For Academic
Professor Shannon S. Stahlof the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Aerobic Oxidation Methods for Pharmaceutical Synthesis (summary and podcast)
2013 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Life Technologies Corporation (technology acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific)
Safe, Sustainable Chemistries for the Manufacturing of PCR Reagents (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
The Dow Chemical Company
EVOQUETM Pre-Composite Polymer Technology (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Cargill, Inc.
Vegetable Oil Dielectric Insulating Fluid for High-Voltage Transformers (summary) - For Small Business
Faraday Technology, Inc.
Functional Chrome Coatings Electrodeposited from a Trivalent Chromium Plating Electrolyte (summary) - For Academic
Professor Richard P. Wool of the University of Delaware
Sustainable Polymers and Composites: Optimal Design (summary)
2012 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Codexis, Inc.
Professor Yi Tang of the University of California, Los Angeles
An Efficient Biocatalytic Process to Manufacture Simvastatin (summary and podcast) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Cytec Industries Inc.(acquired by Solvay)
MAX HT® Bayer Sodalite Scale Inhibitor (summary and podcast) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Buckman International, Inc.
Enzymes Reduce the Energy and Wood Fiber Required to Manufacture High-Quality Paper and Paperboard (summary and podcast) - For Small Business
Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc.
Using Metathesis Catalysis to Produce High-Performing, Green Specialty Chemicals at Advantageous Costs (summary and podcast) - For Academic
Professor Robert M. Waymouth of Stanford University
Dr. James L. Hedrick of the IBM Almaden Research Center
Organic Catalysis: A Broadly Useful Strategy for Green Polymer Chemistry (summary and podcast) - For Academic
Professor Geoffrey W. Coates of Cornell University
Synthesizing Biodegradable Polymers from Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide (summary and podcast)
2011 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Genomatica
Production of Basic Chemicals from Renewable Feedstocks at Lower Cost (summary and podcast) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.
NEXARTM Polymer Membrane Technology (summary and podcast) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Water-based Acrylic Alkyd Technology (summary and podcast) - For Small Business
BioAmber, Inc.
Integrated Production and Downstream Applications of Biobased Succinic Acid (summary and podcast) - For Academic
Professor Bruce H. Lipshutz of the University of California, Santa Barbara
Towards Ending Our Dependence on Organic Solvents (summary and podcast)
2010 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
The Dow Chemical Company
BASF Corporation
Innovative, Environmentally Benign Production of Propylene Oxide via Hydrogen Peroxide (summary and podcast) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Merck & Co., Inc.
Codexis, Inc.
Greener Manufacturing of Sitagliptin Enabled by an Evolved Transaminase (summary and podcast) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Clarke
NatularTM Larvicide: Adapting Spinosad for Next-Generation Mosquito Control (summary and podcast) - For Small Business
LS9, Inc. (Acquired by REG LifeSciences LLC)
Microbial Production of Renewable PetroleumTM Fuels and Chemicals (summary and podcast) - For Academic
James C. Liao, Ph.D., of the University of California, Los Angeles
Easel Biotechnologies, LLC
Recycling Carbon Dioxide to Biosynthesize Higher Alcohols (summary and podcast)
2009 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Eastman Chemical Company
A Solvent-Free Biocatalytic Process for Cosmetic and Personal Care Ingredients (summary and podcast) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
CEM Corporation
Innovative Analyzer Tags Proteins for Fast, Accurate Results without Hazardous Chemicals or High Temperatures (summary and podcast) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
The Procter & Gamble Company
Cook Composites and Polymers Company (Chempol® technology acquired by Arkema Coating Resins)
Chempol® MPS Resins and Sefose® Sucrose Esters Enable High-Performance Low-VOC Alkyd Paints and Coatings (summary and podcast) - For Small Business
Virent Energy Systems, Inc.
BioForming® Process: Catalytic Conversion of Plant Sugars into Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels (summary and podcast) - For Academic
Professor Krzysztof Matyjaszewski of Carnegie Mellon University
Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization: Low-impact Polymerization Using a Copper Catalyst and Environmentally Friendly Reducing Agents (summary and podcast)
2008 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Battelle
Development and Commercialization of Biobased Toners (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Nalco Company
3D TRASAR® Technology (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Dow Agrosciences LLC (now CortevaTM Agriscience)
Spinetoram: Enhancing a Natural Product for Insect Control (summary) - For Small Business
SiGNa Chemistry, Inc.
New Stabilized Alkali Metals for Safer, Sustainable Syntheses (summary) - For Academic
Professors Robert E. Maleczka, Jr. and Milton R. Smith, III of Michigan State University
Green Chemistry for Preparing Boronic Esters (summary)
2007 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Professor Kaichang Li of Oregon State University
Columbia Forest Products
Hercules Incorporated (now Ashland Inc. )
Development and Commercial Application of Environmentally Friendly Adhesives for Wood Composites (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Headwaters Technology Innovation
Direct Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide by Selective Nanocatalyst Technology (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Cargill, Incorporated
BiOHTM Polyols (summary) - For Small Business
NovaSterilis
Environmentally Benign Medical Sterilization Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (summary) - For Academic
Professor Michael J. Krische of the University of Texas at Austin
Hydrogen-Mediated Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation (summary)
2006 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Merck & Co., Inc.
Novel Green Synthesis for β-Amino Acids Produces the Active Ingredient in JanuviaTM (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Codexis, Inc.
Directed Evolution of Three Biocatalysts to Produce the Key Chiral Building Block for Atorvastatin, the Active Ingredient in Lipitor® (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
GreenlistTM Process to Reformulate Consumer Products (summary) - For Small Business
Arkon Consultants
NuPro Technologies, Inc. (now Eastman Kodak)
Environmentally Safe Solvents and Reclamation in the Flexographic Printing Industry (summary) - For Academic
Professor Galen J. Suppes of University of Missouri-Columbia
Biobased Propylene Glycol and Monomers from Natural Glycerin (summary)
2005 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Novozymes
NovaLipidTM: Low Trans Fats and Oils Produced by Enzymatic Interesterification of Vegetable Oils Using Lipozyme® (summary) - For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Merck & Co., Inc.
A Redesigned, Efficient Synthesis of Aprepitant, the Active Ingredient in Emend®: A New Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Emesis (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
BASF Corporation
A UV-Curable, One-Component, Low-VOC Refinish Primer: Driving Eco-Efficiency Improvements (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Archer RCTM: A Nonvolatile, Reactive Coalescent for the Reduction of VOCs in Latex Paints (summary) - For Small Business
Metabolix, Inc. (now Yield10 Bioscience)
Producing Nature's Plastics Using Biotechnology (summary) - For Academic
Professor Robin D. Rogers of The University of Alabama
A Platform Strategy Using Ionic Liquids to Dissolve and Process Cellulose for Advanced New Materials (summary)
2004 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Development of a Green Synthesis for Taxol® Manufacture via Plant Cell Fermentation and Extraction (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Buckman Laboratories International, Inc.
Optimyze®: A New Enzyme Technology to Improve Paper Recycling (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Engelhard Corporation (now BASF Corporation)
Engelhard RightfitTM Organic Pigments: Environmental Impact, Performance, and Value (summary) - For Small Business
Jeneil Biosurfactant Company
Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant: A Natural, Low-Toxicity Alternative to Synthetic Surfactants (summary) - For Academic
Professor Charles A. Eckert and Professor Charles L. Liotta of Georgia Institute of Technology
Benign Tunable Solvents Coupling Reaction and Separation Processes (summary)
2003 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Süd-Chemie Inc. (now Clariant)
A Wastewater-Free Process for Synthesis of Solid Oxide Catalysts (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
DuPont
Microbial Production of 1,3-Propanediol (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Shaw Industries, Inc.
EcoWorxTM Carpet Tile: A Cradle-to-Cradle Product (summary) - For Small Business
AgraQuest, Inc. (now Bayer CropScience)
Serenade®: An Effective, Environmentally Friendly Biofungicide (summary) - For Academic
Professor Richard A. Gross of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
New Options for Mild and Selective Polymerizations Using Lipases (summary)
2002 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Pfizer, Inc.
Green Chemistry in the Redesign of the Sertraline Process (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Cargill Dow LLC (now NatureWorks LLC)
NatureWorksTM PLA Process (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Chemical Specialties, Inc. (now Viance)
ACQ Preserve®: The Environmentally Advanced Wood Preservative (summary) - For Small Business
SC Fluids, Inc.
SCORR – Supercritical CO2 Resist Remover (summary) - For Academic
Professor Eric J. Beckman of the University of Pittsburgh
Design of Non-Fluorous, Highly CO2-Soluble Materials (summary)
2001 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Bayer Corporation
Bayer AG (technology acquired by LANXESS)
BaypureTM CX (Sodium Iminodisuccinate): An Environmentally Friendly and Readily Biodegradable Chelating Agent (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Novozymes North America, Inc.
BioPreparationTM of Cotton Textiles: A Cost-Effective, Environmentally Compatible Preparation Process (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
PPG Industries
Yttrium as a Lead Substitute in Cationic Electrodeposition Coatings (summary) - For Small Business
EDEN Bioscience Corporation (technology acquired by Plant Health Care, Inc.)
Messenger®: A Green Chemistry Revolution in Plant Production and Food Safety (summary) - For Academic
Professor Chao-Jun Li of McGill University
Quasi-Nature Catalysis: Developing Transition Metal Catalysis in Air and Water (summary)
2000 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Roche Colorado Corporation (now CordenPharma Colorado)
An Efficient Process for the Production of Cytovene, a Potent Antiviral Agent (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Bayer Corporation (now Covestro)
Bayer AG
Two-Component Waterborne Polyurethane Coatings (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Dow AgroSciences LLC
SentriconTM Termite Colony Elimination System, A New Paradigm for Termite Control (summary) - For Small Business
RevTech, Inc.
EnvirogluvTM: A Technology for Decorating Glass and Ceramicware with Radiation-Curable, Environmentally Compliant Inks (summary) - For Academic
Professor Chi-Huey Wong of The Scripps Research Institute
Enzymes in Large-Scale Organic Synthesis (summary)
1999 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Lilly Research Laboratories
Practical Application of a Biocatalyst in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Nalco Company
The Development and Commercialization of ULTIMER®: The First of a New Family of Water-Soluble Polymer Dispersions (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Dow AgroSciences LLC
Spinosad: A New Natural Product for Insect Control (summary) - For Small Business
BioFine, Inc. (now DPS BioMetics, Inc.)
Conversion of Low-Cost Biomass Wastes to Levulinic Acid and Derivatives (summary) - For Academic Award
Professor Terry Collins of Carnegie Mellon University
TAMLTM Oxidant Activators: General Activation of Hydrogen Peroxide for Green Oxidation Technologies (summary)
1998 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Flexsys America L.P. (now Eastman Chemical Company)
Elimination of Chlorine in the Synthesis of 4-Aminodiphenylamine: A New Process That Utilizes Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution for Hydrogen (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Argonne National Laboratory
Novel Membrane-Based Process for Producing Lactate Esters – Nontoxic Replacements for Halogenated and Toxic Solvents (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Rohm & Haas Company (now a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company)
Invention and Commercialization of a New Chemical Family of Insecticides Exemplified by CONFIRMTM Selective Caterpillar Control Agent and the Related Selective Insect Control Agents MACH 2TM and INTREPIDTM (summary) - For Small Business
PYROCOOL Technologies, Inc.
Technology for the Third Millennium: The Development and Commercial Introduction of an Environmentally Responsible Fire Extinguishment and Cooling Agent (summary) - For Academic
Professor Barry M. Trost of Stanford University
The Development of the Concept of Atom Economy (summary) - For Academic
Dr. Karen M. Draths and Professor John W. Frost of Michigan State University
Use of Microbes as Environmentally Benign Synthetic Catalysts (summary)
1997 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
BHC Company (now BASF Corporation)
BHC Company Ibuprofen Process (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Imation (technology acquired by Eastman Kodak Company)
DryViewTM Imaging Systems (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Albright & Wilson Americas (now Rhodia, a member of the Solvay Group)
THPS Biocides: A New Class of Antimicrobial Chemistry (summary) - For Small Business
Legacy Systems, Inc. (now Modutek Corporation)
ColdstripTM, A Revolutionary Organic Removal and Wet Cleaning Technology (summary) - For Academic
Professor Joseph M. DeSimone of the University of North Carolina (UNC) and North Carolina State University (NCSU)
Design and Application of Surfactants for Carbon Dioxide (summary)
1996 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Monsanto Company
Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Diethanolamine (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
The Dow Chemical Company
100 Percent Carbon Dioxide as a Blowing Agent for the Polystyrene Foam Sheet Packaging Market (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Rohm & Haas (now a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company)
Designing an Environmentally Safe Marine Antifoulant (summary) - For Small Business
Donlar Corporation (NanoChem Solutions, Inc., part of Flexible Solutions)
Production and Use of Thermal Polyaspartic Acid (summary) - For Academic
Professor Mark Holtzapple of Texas A&M University
Conversion of Waste Biomass to Animal Feed, Chemicals, and Fuels (summary)