NPCA/FSCT Member Company Recognized by EPA's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized chemical technologies developed by leading researchers and industrial innovators making significant contributions to pollution prevention in the United States, awarding NPCA/FSCT member Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) with the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, jointly with Procter & Gamble Co. Their submission of "Chempol® MPS Resins and Sefose® Sucrose Esters Enable High-Performance Low-VOC Alkyd Paints and Coatings," won in the category of Designing Greener Chemicals. Awards are given in four other categories: Academic, Small Business, Greener Synthetic Pathways, and Greener Reaction Conditions. Notable: of the 106 applications this year, eight were paint and coatings related, reflecting the industry's leadership and movement toward green chemistry.

The full list of winners and applicants is available at http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/pubs/pgcc/past.html.

EPA's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge promotes research and development of less-hazardous alternatives to existing technologies that reduce or eliminate waste, particularly hazardous waste, in industrial production.

Chempol MPS is a Sefose®-based alkyd resin technology that enables formulation of paints and coatings with significantly less VOCs than traditional solventborne alkyd coatings. Chempol MPS alkyd resins are specially formulated to perform similarly to petroleum-based polymers while delivering both an improved environmental profile and an enhanced consumer usage experience. The technology was developed and commercialized through collaborative efforts.

An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society selected the winners from over 100 nominated technologies.

Over the past 14 years, awardees' work has led to the elimination of more than 1.3 billion pounds of hazardous chemicals and solvents, nearly 43 billion gallons of water, and about 450 million pounds of carbon dioxide. These benefits are in addition to significant energy and cost savings by the winners and their customers.

Date Posted: July 1, 2009