The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Clariant its New Chemicals Program P2 Recognition Project Award for the company’s Exolit^® OP 560, a new-generation, non-halogenated flame-retardant. The product is manufactured by Clariant’s Pigments & Additives Division for polyurethane foams in automotive, furniture and consumer applications.

This marks the second time in two years that Clariant has won the EPA honor, given to products that offer innovative chemistry and significant pollution prevention potential. Clariant’s Paper business received the P2 Recognition Project Award in 2008 for Cartaspers PSM, a product used in paper manufacturing.

EPA gave only four P2 Recognition awards this year. Award winners are selected from among all new chemicals submitted to the agency for registration and for which manufacturing or import commenced in the U.S. during 2008. Exolit OP 560 is a product of Clariant’s Pigments & Additives Division.

The award-winning chemicals are identified through EPA's New Chemicals Program, which screens up to 2,500 chemicals a year through the Pre-Manufacture Notice (PMN) P2 screening process, as well as during more detailed new chemical reviews. In selecting products to recognize under the program, EPA says it looks for products that promote source reduction as well as safety goals.

In recognizing Clariant’s Exolit OP 560, EPA specifically cited its halogen-free “unique chemistry (that) allows maximum flame retardant efficiency without the release of potentially toxic gases into the atmosphere when combusted or the production of dangerous halogenated by-products upon degradation or combustion.”

For more information, visit www.clariant.com.