United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics
(7406)
EPA744-F-97-004
March 1997
BACKGROUND:
DESCRIPTION:
The Presidential Green
Chemistry Challenge
Awards Program Selection
Criteria
President Clinton announced the Presidential Green
Chemistry Challenge on March 16, 1995, as part of the
Reinventing Environmental Regulations Initiative to
"promote pollution prevention and industrial ecology
through a new EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency] Design for the Environment partnership with
the chemical industry." EPA's Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics is leading this voluntary partner-
ship program with other EPA offices, other federal
agencies, members of the chemical industry, trade associ-
ations, scientific organizations, and academia.
EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner announced the
Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program
on October 30, 1995, as an opportunity for individuals,
groups, and organizations to "compete for Presidential
awards in recognition of fundamental breakthroughs in
cleaner, cheaper, smarter chemistry." The Presidential
Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program provides'
national recognition for fundamental and innovative
chemical technologies that incorporate the principles of •
green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture, and
use, and that have been or can be utilized by industry in
achieving their pollution prevention goals.
sidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program is open to all indi-
>ups, and organizations, both nonprofit and for profit, including
^industry. Approximately five awards are given annually
||nd government sponsors, an academic institution,
Sipsiness. Nominations received for die awards are XT^ ^^^^.
by an'independent panel of technical experts convened -v^ \\ ^^
the American Chemical Society. ' r5
Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.
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SELECTION CRITERIA
The selection criteria used to judge nominations received for the Presidential
Green Chemistry Challenge Awards were designed to ensure that recognition of
outstanding accomplishments in green chemistry centers on the program scope
and objectives.
The awards selection criteria are as follows:
1. A nominated chemistry technology must, meet the scope of the program and
at least one of the focus areas.
2. A nominated chemistry technology should offer human health and/or envi-
ronmental benefits. The technology may, for example,
• Reduce toxicity (acute or chronic), illness or injury, flammability, explosion
potential, emissions or other releases, transport of hazardous substances, or
use of hazardous substances in reaction processes;
• Improve usage of natural resources, such as renewable feedstocks; or
• Enhance biodiversity.
3. A nominated chemistry technology must be generally applicable to a large
and broad-based segment of chemical manufacturers, users, or society at
large. The nominated technology must offer at least the following:
• A realistic approach to green chemistry,
• A'remedy to a real environmental management problem, or
• Features that can be transferred readily to other facilities, locations, and
industry sectors.
4. A nominated chemistry technology must be innovative and of scientific
merit. The technology should be, for example, original (i.e., never employed
before) and scientifically valid.
Additional information on the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge
program is available by calling EPA's Pollution Prevention Information
Clearinghouse at 202 260-1023. Information is also available from
Paul Anastas and Tracy Williamson of EPA's Industrial Chemistry
Branch at 202 260-2659, and via the Internet at
(http://www.epa.gov/docs/gcc).
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