Green Chemistry Challenge Award
Green Chemistry Challenge Award recognizes innovators in companies and academia for technologies that prevent pollution, reduce hazardous substances, and deliver environmental and economic benefits.
This grant was recently updated
The nomination deadline changed from January 31, 2026 to February 1, 2027 for the 2027 competition. Applicants must now submit through the ACS Green Chemistry Institute portal using a free ACS ID; the nomination package, Focus Area 3 wording, and winner announcement and ceremony details also changed.
Funder: American Chemical Society
Due Dates: January 31, 2026 (2026 nominations) | February 1, 2027 (2027 nominations)
Funding Amounts: Recognition award, not research funding
Summary: Recognizes novel green chemistry technologies that deliver environmental and economic benefits through safer chemistry and reduced resource use.
Key Information: Technologies must include source reduction, a significant U.S. component, and a development milestone within five years.
Description
The American Chemical Society (ACS) Green Chemistry Institute sponsors the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards to promote the environmental and economic benefits of novel green chemistry. Established in 1996, the program recognizes technologies that reduce or eliminate hazardous substances, use less energy and water, and improve product sustainability. Its scope spans chemical design, manufacture, use, and ultimate disposal, emphasizing pollution prevention rather than treatment after pollution has formed.
The 2027 competition has ten categories: seven technology focus areas, plus Small Business, Climate Change, and Academic awards. These recognize greener synthesis, circularity and degradability, energy materials, biomass valorization, safer chemicals, and fundamental research that can enable real-world solutions. Technical experts convened by ACS assess scientific innovation, human health and environmental benefits, and applicability and impact.
