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EPA Co-Sponsors Green Chemistry Forum for New England Scientists

Release Date: 11/23/2010
Contact Information: David Deegan, 617-918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – Nov. 23, 2010) – EPA’s New England office is working collaboratively with Beyond Benign to sponsor a Green Chemistry Networking Forum on Dec. 16 at the MIT Faculty Club in Cambridge. The forum is a free event meant to support and help further develop a network of cutting-edge scientists engaged in finding safer, less-toxic chemical uses to advance sustainability in our society.

Green Chemistry is the design, development, and implementation of products, materials, and processes to reduce or eliminate the use and generation of toxic and hazardous waste. Green Chemistry is a philosophy and approach to design new materials and products derived from renewable feedstock. Green Chemistry considers the entire life cycle of the materials and products manufactured.

The networking forum will take place on Dec. 16, 2010 at the MIT Faculty Club – 6th Floor, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge Mass. between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

EPA is launching a New England Green Challenge, with a goal to broaden the understanding and adoption of green chemistry practices and principles in business, education, government, health care, and society as a catalyst to grow a sustainable economy in New England and beyond. Some goals include understanding the interrelationship of green chemistry and sustainability, supporting a transformative dialogue about new ways to achieve a safe and green sustainable future and fostering a New England economy that is based on local resources, labor force, research capacity and expert knowledge.

“We are excited to promote and advance Green Chemistry solutions, because it is clear that rigorous creativity helps foster major improvements in important areas such as use of safer and less-toxic chemicals and better energy efficiency,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Common sense tells us that better efficiencies and improvements translate to a healthier bottom line for companies, a sound economy for our region and healthier communities with a better protected environment.”

The forum will feature Curt Spalding, EPA New England regional administrator; and Green Chemistry leaders, Dr. Paul Anastas, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Research and Development and the Science Advisor to the Agency, and John Warner, President and Chief Technology Officer, Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry.

There is no cost for the Forum but registration is required. Please register by December 10, 2010 as space is limited.

More information:

New England Green Chemistry Networking Forum (https://www.epa.gov/region1/gcforum2010/index.html)

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