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:
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Genomatica Exit
Biobased Butylene Glycol (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Merck & Co. Exit
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 Exit
Biobased Formaldehyde-Free Thermoset Binder Formulation (summary) - For Small Business
Vestaron Corporation Exit
SPEAR® Insecticide: First Member of a New Class of Biopesticides That Show Efficacy Comparable to Synthetic Insecticides (summary) - For Academic
Professor Steven Skerlos Exitof the University of Michigan and Fusion Coolant Systems Exit
Pure-Cut™ (summary)
2019 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Merck & Co. EXIT
Innovating for a Greener Future: Development of a Green & Sustainable Manufacturing Process for ZerbaxaTM (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
WSIEXIT
TRUpathTM (summary) - For Small Business
Kalion, Inc. Exit
Microbially Produced High-Purity Glucaric Acid for Diverse Uses (summary) - For Academic
Professor Sanjoy Banerjee Exitof 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. Exit
2017 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Merck & Co., Inc. EXIT
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.EXIT
Bachem EXIT
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 EXIT
Papierfabrik August Koehler SE Exit
Breakthrough Sustainable Imaging Technology for Thermal Paper (summary) - For Small Business
UniEnergy Technologies LLC Exit
The UniSystemTM: An Advanced Vanadium Redox Flow Battery for Grid-Scale Energy Storage (summary) - For Academic
Professor Eric J. Schelter Exitof 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 Exit
Albemarle Exit
AlkyClean® Technology: An Inherently Safer Technology for the Production of Gasoline Alkylate (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Dow AgroSciences LLC Exit
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 Exit
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 Exit of Princeton University Exit
Catalysis with Earth Abundant Transition Metals (summary)
2015 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
LanzaTech Inc. Exit
LanzaTech Gas Fermentation Process (summary and picture) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Soltex (Synthetic Oils and Lubricants of Texas) Exit
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 Exit
Nanotech Industries
Hybrid Non-Isocyanate Polyurethane/Green PolyurethaneTM (summary and picture) - For Small Business
Renmatix Exit
The Plantrose® Process: Supercritical Water as the Economic Enabler of Biobased Industry (summary and picture) - For Academic
Professor Eugene Y.-X. Chen Exit of Colorado State University Exit
Greener Condensation Reactions for Renewable Chemicals, Liquid Fuels, and Biodegradable Polymers (summary and picture) - For Specific Environmental Benefit: Climate Change
Algenol Exit
The Algenol Biofuel Process: Sustainable Production of Ethanol and Green Crude (summary and picture)
2014 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Solazyme, Inc. Exit
Tailored Oils Produced from Microalgal Fermentation (summary and podcast) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
QD Vision, Inc. Exit(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 Exit
RE-HEALINGTM Foam Concentrates–Effective Halogen-Free Firefighting (summary) - For Small Business
Amyris Exit
Farnesane: a Breakthrough Renewable Hydrocarbon for Use as Diesel and Jet Fuel (summary and podcast) - For Academic
Professor Shannon S. Stahl Exitof the University of Wisconsin-Madison Exit
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)Exit
Safe, Sustainable Chemistries for the Manufacturing of PCR Reagents (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
The Dow Chemical Company Exit
EVOQUETM Pre-Composite Polymer Technology (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Cargill, Inc. Exit
Vegetable Oil Dielectric Insulating Fluid for High-Voltage Transformers (summary) - For Small Business
Faraday Technology, Inc. Exit
Functional Chrome Coatings Electrodeposited from a Trivalent Chromium Plating Electrolyte (summary) - For Academic
Professor Richard P. Wool Exitof the University of Delaware Exit
Sustainable Polymers and Composites: Optimal Design (summary)
2012 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Codexis, Inc. Exit
Professor Yi Tang Exit of the University of California, Los Angeles Exit
An Efficient Biocatalytic Process to Manufacture Simvastatin (summary and podcast) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Cytec Industries Inc. Exit(acquired by Solvay)
MAX HT® Bayer Sodalite Scale Inhibitor (summary and podcast) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Buckman International, Inc. Exit
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. Exit
Using Metathesis Catalysis to Produce High-Performing, Green Specialty Chemicals at Advantageous Costs (summary and podcast) - For Academic
Professor Robert M. Waymouth Exit of Stanford University
Dr. James L. Hedrick of the IBM Almaden Research Center Exit
Organic Catalysis: A Broadly Useful Strategy for Green Polymer Chemistry (summary and podcast) - For Academic
Professor Geoffrey W. Coates Exit of Cornell University Exit
Synthesizing Biodegradable Polymers from Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide (summary and podcast)
2011 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Genomatica Exit
Production of Basic Chemicals from Renewable Feedstocks at Lower Cost (summary and podcast) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. Exit
NEXARTM Polymer Membrane Technology (summary and podcast) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
The Sherwin-Williams Company Exit
Water-based Acrylic Alkyd Technology (summary and podcast) - For Small Business
BioAmber, Inc. Exit
Integrated Production and Downstream Applications of Biobased Succinic Acid (summary and podcast) - For Academic
Professor Bruce H. Lipshutz Exit of the University of California, Santa Barbara Exit
Towards Ending Our Dependence on Organic Solvents (summary and podcast)
2010 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
The Dow Chemical Company Exit
BASF Corporation Exit
Innovative, Environmentally Benign Production of Propylene Oxide via Hydrogen Peroxide (summary and podcast) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Merck & Co., Inc. Exit
Codexis, Inc. Exit
Greener Manufacturing of Sitagliptin Enabled by an Evolved Transaminase (summary and podcast) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Clarke Exit
NatularTM Larvicide: Adapting Spinosad for Next-Generation Mosquito Control (summary and podcast) - For Small Business
LS9, Inc. (Acquired by REG LifeSciences LLC) Exit
Microbial Production of Renewable PetroleumTM Fuels and Chemicals (summary and podcast) - For Academic
James C. Liao, Ph.D., Exit of the University of California, Los Angeles Exit
Easel Biotechnologies, LLC Exit
Recycling Carbon Dioxide to Biosynthesize Higher Alcohols (summary and podcast)
2009 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Eastman Chemical Company Exit
A Solvent-Free Biocatalytic Process for Cosmetic and Personal Care Ingredients (summary and podcast) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
CEM Corporation Exit
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 Exit
Cook Composites and Polymers Company (Chempol® technology acquired by Arkema Coating Resins) Exit
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. Exit
BioForming® Process: Catalytic Conversion of Plant Sugars into Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels (summary and podcast) - For Academic
Professor Krzysztof Matyjaszewski Exit of Carnegie Mellon University Exit
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 Exit
Development and Commercialization of Biobased Toners (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Nalco Company Exit
3D TRASAR® Technology (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Dow Agrosciences LLC (now CortevaTM Agriscience) Exit
Spinetoram: Enhancing a Natural Product for Insect Control (summary) - For Small Business
SiGNa Chemistry, Inc. Exit
New Stabilized Alkali Metals for Safer, Sustainable Syntheses (summary) - For Academic
Professors Robert E. Maleczka, Jr. Exit and Milton R. Smith, III Exit of Michigan State University Exit
Green Chemistry for Preparing Boronic Esters (summary)
2007 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Professor Kaichang Li Exit of Oregon State University Exit
Columbia Forest Products Exit
Hercules Incorporated (now Ashland Inc. Exit)
Development and Commercial Application of Environmentally Friendly Adhesives for Wood Composites (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Headwaters Technology Innovation Exit
Direct Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide by Selective Nanocatalyst Technology (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Cargill, Incorporated Exit
BiOHTM Polyols (summary) - For Small Business
NovaSterilis Exit
Environmentally Benign Medical Sterilization Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (summary) - For Academic
Professor Michael J. Krische Exit of the University of Texas at Austin Exit
Hydrogen-Mediated Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation (summary)
2006 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Merck & Co., Inc. Exit
Novel Green Synthesis for β-Amino Acids Produces the Active Ingredient in JanuviaTM (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Codexis, Inc. Exit
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. Exit
GreenlistTM Process to Reformulate Consumer Products (summary) - For Small Business
Arkon Consultants Exit
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 Exit
Biobased Propylene Glycol and Monomers from Natural Glycerin (summary)
2005 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Archer Daniels Midland Company Exit
Novozymes Exit
NovaLipidTM: Low Trans Fats and Oils Produced by Enzymatic Interesterification of Vegetable Oils Using Lipozyme® (summary) - For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Merck & Co., Inc. Exit
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 Exit
A UV-Curable, One-Component, Low-VOC Refinish Primer: Driving Eco-Efficiency Improvements (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Archer Daniels Midland Company Exit
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 Exit of The University of Alabama Exit
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 Exit
Development of a Green Synthesis for Taxol® Manufacture via Plant Cell Fermentation and Extraction (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Buckman Laboratories International, Inc. Exit
Optimyze®: A New Enzyme Technology to Improve Paper Recycling (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Engelhard Corporation (now BASF Corporation) Exit
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 Exit of Georgia Institute of Technology Exit
Benign Tunable Solvents Coupling Reaction and Separation Processes (summary)
2003 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Süd-Chemie Inc. (now Clariant) Exit
A Wastewater-Free Process for Synthesis of Solid Oxide Catalysts (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
DuPont Exit
Microbial Production of 1,3-Propanediol (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Shaw Industries, Inc. Exit
EcoWorxTM Carpet Tile: A Cradle-to-Cradle Product (summary) - For Small Business
AgraQuest, Inc. (now Bayer CropScience) Exit
Serenade®: An Effective, Environmentally Friendly Biofungicide (summary) - For Academic
Professor Richard A. Gross Exit of Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteExit
New Options for Mild and Selective Polymerizations Using Lipases (summary)
2002 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Pfizer, Inc. Exit
Green Chemistry in the Redesign of the Sertraline Process (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Cargill Dow LLC (now NatureWorks LLC) Exit
NatureWorksTM PLA Process (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Chemical Specialties, Inc. (now Viance) Exit
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 Exit 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) Exit
BaypureTM CX (Sodium Iminodisuccinate): An Environmentally Friendly and Readily Biodegradable Chelating Agent (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Novozymes North America, Inc. Exit
BioPreparationTM of Cotton Textiles: A Cost-Effective, Environmentally Compatible Preparation Process (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
PPG Industries Exit
Yttrium as a Lead Substitute in Cationic Electrodeposition Coatings (summary) - For Small Business
EDEN Bioscience Corporation (technology acquired by Plant Health Care, Inc.) Exit
Messenger®: A Green Chemistry Revolution in Plant Production and Food Safety (summary) - For Academic
Professor Chao-Jun Li Exit of McGill University Exit
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) Exit
An Efficient Process for the Production of Cytovene, a Potent Antiviral Agent (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Bayer Corporation (now Covestro) Exit
Bayer AG
Two-Component Waterborne Polyurethane Coatings (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Dow AgroSciences LLC Exit
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 Exit of The Scripps Research Institute Exit
Enzymes in Large-Scale Organic Synthesis (summary)
1999 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Lilly Research Laboratories Exit
Practical Application of a Biocatalyst in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Nalco Company Exit
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 Exit
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 Exitof 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) Exit
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 Exit
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) Exit
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 Exit of Stanford University Exit
The Development of the Concept of Atom Economy (summary) - For Academic
Dr. Karen M. Draths and Professor John W. Frost Exit 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) Exit
BHC Company Ibuprofen Process (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
Imation (technology acquired by Eastman Kodak Company) Exit
DryViewTM Imaging Systems (summary) - For Designing Greener Chemicals
Albright & Wilson Americas (now Rhodia, a member of the Solvay Group) Exit
THPS Biocides: A New Class of Antimicrobial Chemistry (summary) - For Small Business
Legacy Systems, Inc. (now Modutek Corporation)Exit
ColdstripTM, A Revolutionary Organic Removal and Wet Cleaning Technology (summary) - For Academic
Professor Joseph M. DeSimone of the University of North Carolina (UNC) Exitand North Carolina State University (NCSU) Exit
Design and Application of Surfactants for Carbon Dioxide (summary)
1996 Award Winners
- For Greener Synthetic Pathways
Monsanto Company Exit
Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Diethanolamine (summary) - For Greener Reaction Conditions
The Dow Chemical Company Exit
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) Exit
Designing an Environmentally Safe Marine Antifoulant (summary) - For Small Business
Donlar Corporation (NanoChem Solutions, Inc., part of Flexible Solutions) Exit
Production and Use of Thermal Polyaspartic Acid (summary) - For Academic
Professor Mark Holtzapple Exit of Texas A&M University
Conversion of Waste Biomass to Animal Feed, Chemicals, and Fuels (summary)