Biotech companies receive green chemistry awards

June 19, 2012, Washington, DC – Industrial biotechnology is being used to improve production of cleaner, healthier products, saving energy, reducing costs, and reducing pollution from manufacturing. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today congratulated member companies Elevance Renewable Sciences and Codexis on receiving 2012 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards.

“Industrial biotechnology is already being used to produce products for the home that are cleaner and safer for the environment, require less energy for manufacturing and lower production costs,” said Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section. “BIO congratulates our members who have been recognized through the Presidential Green Chemistry Awards for their pioneering advances in applying industrial biotechnology to manufacturing. Their achievements show that more widespread adoption of industrial biotechnology processes can help establish a new path for sustainable economic growth and job creation, without continued reliance on foreign oil.”

Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc. received a Small Business Award for producing high-performing, renewable specialty chemicals at advantageous costs. Elevance employs Nobel-prize-winning catalyst technology to produce novel, high-performance renewable specialty chemicals for many uses that combine the benefits of both petrochemicals and biobased chemicals. The technology consumes significantly less energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent compared to petrochemical technologies.

Codexis, Inc. received a Greener Synthetic Pathways Award for an efficient biocatalytic process to manufacture simvastatin, a leading drug for treating high cholesterol. The previous multistep method for producing simvastatin was wasteful and used large amounts of hazardous reagents. Codexis optimized the chemical process to greatly reduce hazard and waste, be more cost-effective and meet the needs of customers.

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOtech NOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling “innovations transforming our world.”