WASHINGTON — In June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the winners of the 2021 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the generation and use of hazardous substances. This year’s winners have developed new and innovative green chemistry technologies that provide solutions to significant environmental challenges, and spur innovation and economic development.
Winners include:
- Colonial Chemical, Tennessee, for developing environmentally friendly, high performing Suga®Boost surfactants. Many surfactants used in traditional cleaners are made from petroleum-based materials and can be highly toxic. SugaBoost surfactants are plant-based, biodegradable, generate no air emissions or wastewater discharges, and don’t contain known carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. They perform as well or better than toxic, energy-intensive petroleum-based surfactants, creating the potential to yield huge environmental improvements in the cleaning industry.