United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics
(7406)
EPA744-F-96-007
July 1996
The Presidential
Green Chemistry Challenge
Awards Program
Nomination Package for
1997 Awards
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O /A W
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The Presidential Green Chemistry
Challenge Awards Program:
Nomination Package for 1997 Awards
Contents
Scope of the Program 1
Scope Focus Areas 1
Selection Criteria 2
Award Categories 2
How to Enter 3
Judging Entries 4
Notification of Winners 4
Additional Information 5
Footnotes 5
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The Presidential Green Chemistry
Challenge Awards Program
Nomination Package for 1997 Awards
The Green Chemistry Challenge was established to recognize and
promote fundamental and innovative chemical methods that accomplish
pollution prevention through source reduction and that have broad applica-
bility in industry. For purposes of the program, green chemistry is defined as
the use of chemistry for source reduction, the highest tier of the risk man-
agement hierarchy as described in the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990.1
Green chemistry encompasses all aspects and types of chemical processes-
including synthesis, catalysis, analysis, monitoring, separations and reaction
conditions-that reduce impacts on human health and the environment rela-
tive to the current state of the art.
Scope of the
Program
The Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program was established
to recognize technologies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry
into chemical design, manufacture, and use. The evaluation of the impact of
the new technology will include considerations of the health and environ-
mental effects throughout the life-cycle with a recognition that incremental
improvements are necessary.
The Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program is open to all
individuals, groups, and organizations, both non-profit and for profit, includ-
ing academia and industry. The nominated green chemistry technology must be
demonstrated, implemented, and/or applied within the last five years in the United
States.
This nomination package contains concise instructions on how to enter
the competition. Entries must be postmarked no later than November 30,
1996. Awards will be presented in spring, 1997, in Washington, DC.
Nominated green chemistry technologies must be an example of one or
more of the following three focus areas:
I. The use of alternative synthetic pathways for green chem-
istry, such as:
¦ catalysis/biocatalysis,
¦ natural processes, such as photochemistry and biomimetic syn-
thesis, or
¦ alternative feedstocks that are more innocuous and renewable
(e.g., biomass).
II. The use of alternative reaction conditions for green chem-
istry, such as
¦ use of solvents that have a reduced impact on human health
and the environment, or
¦ increased selectivity and reduced wastes and emissions.
Scope Focus Areas
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III. The design of chemicals that are, for example,
m less toxic than current alternatives, or
m inherently safer with regard to accident potential.
Green chemistry technologies nominated for the award will be judged
based on whether they meet the following criteria (where applicable):
1. The nominated chemistry technology must fall within the scope of the
program and at least one of the focus areas.
2. The nominated chemistry technology should offer human health
and/or environmental benefits. The technology may, for example,
m reduce toxicity (acute or chronic), illness or injury, flammability,
explosion potential, emissions or other releases, transport of haz-
ardous substances, or use of hazardous substances in reaction
processes;
0 improve usage of natural resources, such as renewable feedstocks; or
m enhance biodiversity.
3. The 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:
ss a realistic approach to green chemistry,
ii a remedy to a real environmental management problem, or
m features that can be transferred readily to other facilities, loca-
tions, and industry sectors.
4. The nominated chemistry technology must be innovative and of
scientific merit. The technology should be, for example,
m original (i.e., never employed before) and
^ scientifically valid. (That is, can the nominated technology or
strategy stand up to scientific scrutiny through peer review? Has
the mechanism of action been thoroughly elucidated through
sound scientific research?)
Up to five awards will be made. One award will be made to each of the
following:
is a small business2 for a project in any of the scope focus areas,
n an academic institution for a project in any of the scope focus areas,
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m any sponsor for a project in focus area I (the use of alternative syn-
thetic pathways for green chemistry),
m any sponsor for a project in focus area II (the use of alternative reac-
tion conditions for green chemistry), and
^ any sponsor for a project in focus area III (the design of chemicals
for green chemistry).
There is no entry fee, and no standard entry form, but certain require-
ments must be met. Entrants must submit a report that is no longer than
eight pages, written in a 12-point font with a typewriter or word processor,
and printed single-spaced on 8'/2-by-ll-inch paper with 1-inch margins.
Submissions longer than eight pages total will not be accepted.
The report must include the following:
1. A one-page cover sheet with the complete names, addresses, tele-
phone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses (if available) of:
¦ The prime sponsor (person or organization that owns the project
or, in the case of academic projects, is the prime researcher).
n Contributors (individuals or organizations that provided financial
or technical support for project development or implementation).
¦ Contact person (person who is responsible for all communica-
tions with the awards program sponsors).
2. The cover sheet should be followed by a page containing the follow-
ing information:
« Statement affirming that the nominated green chemistry technol-
ogy has been demonstrated, implemented, and/or applied in the
United States within the last five years.
¦ Statement indicating within which of the three focus areas the
nominated project can be categorized. (If the nominated technol-
ogy falls within more than one focus area, a primary focus area
should be designated.)
¦ Statement indicating whether the nominated technology is eligi-
ble for either the small business or academic award.
¦ An abstract not to exceed 200 words that briefly describes the
nominated project.
3. The third page should consist of a one-page executive summary of the
nominated project.
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4. The remaining five pages can be used to detail how the nominated
project meets the selection criteria. Explain the following:
m How the technology meets the scope and focus areas of the Green
Chemistry Challenge program.
ai All human health and/or environmental benefits of the technology.
m How the technology is applicable to industry and society.
ss How the technology is innovative and of scientific merit.
(Some criteria may not apply to every nominated project. Such
instances should be indicated where appropriate.)
There is no limit on the number of entries that may be submitted by one
sponsor. However, each project must be nominated as a separate entry with
a separate project report.
All entries received will be considered public information. No material
will be returned. Program sponsors are not responsible for lost or damaged
entries.
An original hard copy of the report; four double-sided photocopies; and
an electronic copy on a 3V2 inch computer disk clearly labeled with the com-
puter format (IBM or Apple), software used, and file name(s) must be post-
marked no later than November 30, 1996 and mailed to:
Green Chemistry Challenge
Mail Code 7406
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW.
Washington, DC 20460
Judging Entries
Notification of
Winners
A panel of technical experts selected by the American Chemical Society
will judge the entries. These experts may include members of the scien-
tific, industrial, governmental, educational, and environmental communities.
To assure fairness, judges will compare entries only with others in the same
award category. Judges may request verification of any chemistry described
or claims made in entries that are selected as finalists. The judges will select
the chemistry projects or programs that best meet the selection criteria as
award recipients.
Winners will be notified prior to the official public announcement, which
will be made in spring, 1997, in Washington, DC. A crystal award will
be presented to the primary sponsor of the winning green chemistry project
in each of the five award categories. Certificates will be presented to individ-
uals (as identified by the primary sponsor) who contributed to the develop-
ment or implementation of the chemistry.
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questions about eligibility, nomination procedures, or the Green
Chemistry Challenge program should be directed to the Toxic
Substance Control Act Assistance Information Service at 202 554-1404 or
202 554-0551 (TDD). Information on the Green Chemistry Challenge pro-
gram is also available from EPA's Pollution Prevention Information
Clearinghouse (202 260-1023) or EPA's Industrial Chemistry Branch
(202 260-2659).
Additional information on the Green Chemistry Challenge program is
available on the internet at http://www.epa.gov/docs/gcc or through EPA's
homepage (http://www.epa.gov; select "Offices," then "Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances," then "Toxic Substances," then "OPPT
Programs and Initiatives," then "Design for the Environment (DfE)," and
then "Green Chemistry Challenge Awards").
Additional
Information
'Pertinent sections of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990:
Footnotes
Sec. 6601. SHORT TITLE.
This subtide may be cited as the "Pollution Prevention Act of 1990".
Sec. 6602. FINDINGS AND POLICY.
(b) Policy. - "The Congress hereby declares it to be the national pol-
icy of the United States that pollution should be prevented or
reduced at the source whenever feasible"
Sec. 6603. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this subtitle -
"(5)(A) The term "source reduction" means any practice which -
(i) reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or
contaminant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into
the environment (including fugitive emissions) prior to recycling,
treatment, or disposal; and
(ii) reduces the hazards to public health and the environment
associated with the release of such substances, pollutants, or con-
taminants."
2 A small business is defined here as one with annual sales of less than $40
million, including all domestic and foreign sales by the company, its sub-
sidiaries, and its parent company.
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