Green chemistry concept

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards from companies or institutions that have developed a new green chemistry process or product that helps protect human health and the environment. EPA's efforts to speed the adoption of this revolutionary and diverse discipline have led to significant environmental benefits, innovation, and a strengthened economy. The awards program highlights green chemistry that helps prevent pollution before it is even created, making it a preferred approach for providing solutions to some of the nation's most significant environmental challenges.

“Green Chemistry continues to be a leading and innovative field that demonstrates how cutting-edge technologies can be used to prevent pollution at its source,” says EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pollution Prevention Jennie Romer. “New this year, an award category was added to recognize technology that promotes circularity through green chemistry and design of greener chemicals and materials which can be readily recycled or reused. We are excited to recognize innovation in avoiding plastics added to landfills after just one use, considering how challenging and costly they are to reuse or recycle.”

Nominations are due to EPA by Dec. 8, 2023. An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute will formally judge the 2024 nominations and make recommendations to EPA for the 2024 winners. EPA anticipates giving awards to outstanding green chemistry technologies in six categories in fall 2024.

Additionally, EPA is announcing a webinar to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT, to educate stakeholders on the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards and the nomination process. Registration for the webinar is available here.

Since the inception of the awards more than a quarter century ago, EPA has received more than 1,800 nominations and presented awards for 133 technologies that decrease hazardous chemicals and resources, reduce costs, protect human health, and spur economic growth. Winning technologies are responsible for annually reducing the use or generation of hundreds of millions of pounds of hazardous chemicals, saving billions of gallons of water, and eliminating billions of pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents.

More information on past award winners and how to submit entries can be found on EPA’s Green Chemistry website.