Green Chemistry Workshops Bring National Expertise, Practical Solutions, and Funding Resources to New York Manufacturers
Creating Competitive Advantage: Foundational Green Chemistry Training for Industry workshops, led by Dr. John Warner, a co-founder of green chemistry, and co-hosted by the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), will provide chemical manufacturers with knowledge about sustainable practices along with resources, access to experts, and technical assistance for eligible projects. The workshop is free to participants through funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The training series will feature four one-day workshops held in person across New York State, each tailored to a different chemical manufacturing subsector. Workshop dates and locations will be announced soon. Additionally, an industry-specific virtual webinar will be available to a broader audience of chemical manufacturers in New York; in New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands (EPA region 2); and throughout the U.S. for all other stakeholders.
Increasingly, manufacturers are using green chemistry as a business strategy to identify opportunities for innovation, manage environmental impacts, and respond to growing customer demand for more sustainable products. Green chemistry applies a set of principles that help manufacturers design products and processes that reduce hazards, prevent pollution, and improve efficiency. By reducing the use and generation of hazardous substances, green chemistry can support safer workplaces, improve environmental performance, and strengthen operational resilience.
Participants will engage directly with John Warner, an internationally recognized leader in green chemistry. Warner, an industrial chemist with over 350 patents, co-founded the field in 1998 with the defining book that outlines the 12 principles. He also founded the first Ph.D. program in green chemistry in 2001. His inventions have helped start companies in sectors including electronics, construction materials, neurochemistry, and cosmetics. The Creating Competitive Advantage workshop series will be tailored to priority chemical manufacturing subsectors, including Fibers and Filaments, Basic Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Medicine, and Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing, that have been identified through TRI-reportable emissions and pollution prevention opportunity data. “This training is essential for all practitioners of chemistry and materials science, from research through manufacturing, to accelerate invention through commercialization using the principles of green chemistry,” said Warner.
Workshop participants will explore industry-specific examples of green chemistry strategies that can prevent pollution, reduce hazardous waste generation, and lower TRI-reportable emissions. The sessions will also highlight how manufacturers can access technical assistance through NYSP2I’s Direct Assistance Program, learn about federal and state resources, and connect with academic researchers across New York State. “Green chemistry offers manufacturers a practical pathway to reduce pollution at the source while strengthening competitiveness,” said Patrick Foster, Deputy Commissioner for Sustainable Development at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. “We encourage manufacturers across the state to take advantage of this free training and the technical resources available to help identify safer, more efficient approaches.”
Chemical manufacturer representatives, including executives, financial officers, environmental health and safety professionals, operations leaders, marketing professionals, and product developers, are encouraged to attend. Because green chemistry decisions can affect product design, process efficiency, regulatory reporting, worker safety, and market positioning, the workshops are designed for cross-functional teams as well as individual participants. “Green chemistry offers tremendous opportunities for innovation, but understanding where to start can be challenging. These workshops are designed to give manufacturers a practical foundation they can build on,” said Roy Green, Director of NYSP2I.
Registration is free, but space is limited for each in-person workshop. Manufacturers are encouraged to register early to select the session most relevant to their subsector. For workshop dates, locations, and registration information, visit nysp2i.rit.edu/greenchem-for-industry.
About the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I)
The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) is a statewide resource dedicated to helping industries, communities, and institutions advance pollution prevention and sustainable practices. NYSP2I is led by the Center for Innovation in Manufacturing and Sustainability (CIMS) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and is a partnership among Binghamton University, Clarkson University, Cornell University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In collaboration with the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP), NYSP2I also works closely with manufacturers across the state to advance sustainable production and support their sustainability efforts. To learn more, visit: www.nysp2i.rit.edu.
This work by subawardee Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is supported by prime funding provided by the Environmental Protection Agency IIJA Grant No. 96277424 to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to support the New York State Green Chemistry Initiative for the Chemical Manufacturing Industry. Be advised, these document(s) may not have been formally reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and may not reflect the views and policies of the EPA or of the New York State DEC. The EPA and NYS DEC do not endorse any trade names or recommend the use of commercial products that may be mentioned in these documents (if applicable).
