Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§9303 Agency activities in support of sustainable chemistry

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 118— - SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY › § 9303

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Agencies participating in the Entity must carry out activities to support sustainable chemistry that fit each agency’s mission. They must add sustainable chemistry into their existing research, development, demonstration, technology transfer, commercialization, education, and training programs. That can include merit-based research grants (including for early career researchers), grants for university–industry–nonprofit partnerships, coordination of work at federal labs, prize competitions, and financial help like grants, loans, or loan guarantees to move new sustainable chemicals, materials, processes, and products toward the market. Agencies must also collect and share information on research and best practices, and work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to help create or recognize standardized tools for measuring sustainability. Agencies must grow education and training for students and professionals, using industry partnerships and by adding sustainable chemistry into curricula and professional development. They should support outreach and events, invite public input through meetings and educational events, and set up metrics to track program results. Agencies should encourage or honor advances in sustainable chemistry, including a national awards program run by the Environmental Protection Agency. Any money provided must only fund pre-competitive work and cannot be used to promote or attack a specific product, process, or technology.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §9303

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The agencies participating in the Entity shall carry out activities in support of sustainable chemistry, as appropriate to the specific mission and programs of each agency.

(b)The activities described in subsection (a) shall—

(1)incorporate sustainable chemistry into existing research, development, demonstration, technology transfer, commercialization, education, and training programs, that the agency determines to be relevant, including consideration of—

(A)merit-based competitive grants to individual investigators and teams of investigators, including, to the extent practicable, early career investigators, for research and development;

(B)grants to fund collaborative research and development partnerships among universities, industry, and nonprofit organizations;

(C)coordination of sustainable chemistry research, development, demonstration, and technology transfer conducted at Federal laboratories and agencies;

(D)incentive prize competitions and challenges in coordination with such existing Federal agency programs; and

(E)grants, loans, and loan guarantees to aid in the technology transfer and commercialization of sustainable chemicals, materials, processes, and products;

(2)collect and disseminate information on sustainable chemistry research, development, technology transfer, and commercialization, including information on accomplishments and best practices;

(3)expand the education and training of students at appropriate levels of education, professional scientists and engineers, and other professionals involved in all aspects of sustainable chemistry and engineering appropriate to that level of education and training, including through—

(A)partnerships with industry as described in section 9304 of this title;

(B)support for the integration of sustainable chemistry principles into chemistry and chemical engineering curriculum and research training, as appropriate to that level of education and training; and

(C)support for integration of sustainable chemistry principles into existing or new professional development opportunities for professionals including teachers, faculty, and individuals involved in laboratory research (product development, materials specification and testing, life cycle analysis, and management);

(4)as relevant to an agency’s programs, examine methods by which the Federal agencies, in collaboration and consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, may facilitate the development or recognition of validated, standardized tools for performing sustainability assessments of chemistry processes or products;

(5)through programs identified by an agency, support, including through technical assistance, participation, financial support, communications tools, awards, or other forms of support, outreach and dissemination of sustainable chemistry advances such as non-Federal symposia, forums, conferences, and publications in collaboration with, as appropriate, industry, academia, scientific and professional societies, and other relevant groups;

(6)provide for public input and outreach to be integrated into the activities described in this section by the convening of public discussions, through mechanisms such as public meetings, consensus conferences, and educational events, as appropriate;

(7)within each agency, develop or adapt metrics to track the outputs and outcomes of the programs supported by that agency; and

(8)incentivize or recognize actions that advance sustainable chemistry products, processes, or initiatives, including through the establishment of a nationally recognized awards program through the Environmental Protection Agency to identify, publicize, and celebrate innovations in sustainable chemistry and chemical technologies.

(c)Financial support provided under this section shall—

(1)be available only for pre-competitive activities; and

(2)not be used to promote the sale of a specific product, process, or technology, or to disparage a specific product, process, or technology.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 9303

Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73