Funding- EPA - 12th
Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability
Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Materials and Chemicals;
December 16, 2014
Agency
Environmental
Protection Agency
Description
The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the P3-People,
Prosperity and the Planet Award Program, is seeking applications proposing to
research, develop, and design solutions to real world challenges involving the
overall sustainability of human society. The P3 competition highlights the use
of scientific principles in creating innovative projects focused on
sustainability. The P3 Award program was developed to foster progress toward
sustainability by achieving the mutual goals of improved quality of life,
economic prosperity and protection of the planet -- people, prosperity, and the
planet – the three pillars of sustainability. The EPA offers the P3 competition
in order to respond to the technical needs of the world while moving towards
the goal of sustainability. Please see the P3 website for more details about
this program.
Materials
and Chemicals (Funding
Opportunity Number: EPA-G2015-P3-Q3 – Materials and Chemicals)
Sustainable
Materials
Research
is needed to develop new materials and products with minimal environmental and
public health impacts over their life cycles. Areas of interest include
but are not limited to research on:
New materials, processes, and systems with minimal
environmental and public health impacts and reduced carbon footprints over
their full lifecycles.
Materials conservation through renewable feedstocks and reuse of materials through product, process,
or system design innovations.
Innovative materials through biomimicry
practices that contribute to pollution prevention and improved functionality.
Redesign
of existing products to reduce resources used in production or consumption over
the lifecycles of the products.
Projects
that may reduce electronics waste or promote substitution and/or recovery of
rare earth elements.
Sustainable
Chemistry
Sustainable
chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that prevent
pollution by reducing or eliminating the use or generation of hazardous
substances. Sustainable chemistry applies across the life cycle of a chemical
product, including its design, manufacture, and use. Areas of interest
include but are not limited to research on:
Non-fluorinated
wetting agents - Fluorinated polymers/telomers are
used as wetting agents in floor finishes and coatings. The conventional
longer-chain C8 chemicals are highly persistent and associated with various
health and environmental effects. Even the safest of this class of chemical --
the very short-chain telomers and polymers-- is
associated with some level of concern. Safer, non-fluorinated alternatives in
this area are needed.
Less
persistent, less toxic preservatives - Preservatives for cleaning products and
other applications typically use a mechanism of action that, while preventing
degradation of the product, also persist in the environment and often carry
moderate to high toxicity. Safer alternatives in this area are needed.
Safer
“solubilizers” - In order to make surfactants for
liquid detergents pourable, small amines are added to surfactant blends. These
small amines are associated with a range of health effects. Alternatives that
allow liquid detergent compaction, but are not associated with adverse health
effects are needed.
Less
toxic flame retardants - Alternative flame retardants to problematic flame
retardants are needed. Areas for innovation include flexible and rigid
polyurethane foam, high impact polystyrene, and expandable polystyrene for
which there are limited flame retardant options.
Chemistry in agriculture - Reduction or elimination of
pesticides, minimization of fertilizer and nutrient runoff, productive use of
agricultural wastes.
Substitution of rare earth metals.
Announcement
Number: EPA-G2015-P3-Q3
Closing
Date: Dec 16, 2014
Link
to Full Announcement
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=EPA-G2015-P3-Q3
Contact
Information
Cynthia
L. Nolt-Helms
703-347-8102