Minnesota is sprouting a green chemistry industry, and a forum at the University of Minnesota this week aims to fertilize it.
The
Minnesota Green Chemistry Forum will host a conference on Friday, Jan. 7, called Adding Value Through Green Chemistry.
The event will feature speakers from 3M, Aveda, Ecolab, Segetis, Mrs. Meyers Clean Day--all companies that are using or developing products made with materials that reduce or eliminate the use of hazardous chemical substances.
"We're looking at this as a chance to profile what's going on in the state of Minnesota," says Tim Welle, renewable energy program manager for the BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, a member of the Green Chemistry Forum.
Minnesota is at the forefront of the young green chemistry industry. It has academic and private sector expertise, with
several companies already producing products made from green chemistry, many of which utilize plant materials as an alternative to petroleum-based chemicals.
The state has the potential to become an leader in the field because it has the expertise as well as the natural resources to support an industry, such as forestry and agriculture products.
The goal of the forum, says Welle, is to showcase what's happening today, as well as to get people thinking about the potential applications and long-term opportunities in Minnesota.
Source: Tim Welle, BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota
Writer:
Dan Haugen