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:
2022 Award Winners
-
For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Merck & Co., Inc.
Developing a greener way to make LAGEVRIO™ (molnupiravir), an antiviral treatment for COVID-19 (summary) -
For Greener Reaction Conditions
Amgen
An improved manufacturing process for LUMAKRAS™ (sotorasib), a novel drug for the treatment of certain non-small cell lung cancers (summary) -
For Small Business
Provivi
Creating Provivi FAWTM , a biological pheromone-based product that controls the fall armyworm, a destructive pest of corn (summary) -
For Academic
Professor Song Lin of Cornell University
Developing a new, more efficient process using electrochemistry to create large and complicated molecules that are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry (summary) -
For Specific Environmental Benefit—Climate Change
University of California Davis
A technology that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by producing chemicals for making plastic from biomass rather than petroleum (summary)
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 (Acquired by Perimeter Solutions)
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. Stahl of 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 Renewable Energy Group)
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 Stanford University
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)