Ecology Coatings, Inc. has been nominated for the U.S. Green Chemistry Challenge 2012. The program is sponsored by the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute. This program recognizes chemical technologies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry into their design, manufacture and use. Awards will be presented in Washington D.C. in June.

Green chemistry reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances from chemical products and processes to curtail negative impacts on human health and the environment. Ecology Coatings was nominated based on its GRAS (generally regarded as safe) coatings. These coatings have a positive effect on public health in the United States by reducing toxic chemicals contained in food packaging products. Additionally, when Ecology’s GRAS coatings are used as a substitute for petroleum-based products, such as polyethylene, less toxic waste is introduced into the environment.

Ecology’s GRAS coatings are cured at a very rapid rate resulting in a coating with barrier properties to air, solvents, water or grease. Potential uses include coatings for food packaging, wrappings for meat, snack foods and pet food packaging. Since the coating will resist grease, foods will be presented in cleaner, safer and more cost effective packaging, the company said.