Gold-medal ways of going for the green

As it has for several years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) once again paid tribute early this summer to companies, as well as to an individual, for contributions to pollution prevention, via its Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards competition. It is no surprise that once again, chemical process companies are well represented among the winners. The details of the achievements of three 2006-award winners are summarized on page 16. Aside from those specifics, a look at the competition in a broader context might not be amiss. EPA’s detail-rich website (www.epa.gov) makes it relatively easy to peruse the winners for all years of the competition, dating back into the early 1990s. What’s more, EPA has sorted them not only by year but also, luminously, by topic. Here is how they break out (with some achievements falling into more than one category):   Biotechnology, including the use of biological processes or microorganisms: 17 technologies   Biotechnology involving genetic engineering: 5 technologies   Biotechnology involving the usage of isolated enzymes: 6 technologies   Chemical polymers: 9 technologies   Biopolymers (excluding the use of isolated enzymes): 7 technologies   Technologies…