Empower Materials has been awarded the 2011 North American Technology Innovation of the Year Award in the carbon capture materials market by Frost and Sullivan. The Technology Award is a prestigious recognition of Empower Materials' accomplishments in renewable and sustainable materials. Empower Materials, based in New Castle DE, has developed QPAC Polyalkylene Carbonate plastics derived from carbon dioxide and produced through the copolymerization of the gas with one or more epoxides.
In announcing the award, Frost & Sullivan commented:
"Frost & Sullivan is proud to present the 2011 North American Technology Innovation of the Year Award in Carbon Capture Materials to Empower Materials Inc. The Award was based on Empower Materials' superior overall rating above its competition on five criteria: uniqueness of technology, impact on new products/applications, impact on functionality, impact on customer value and relevance of innovation to industry.
Large amounts of carbon dioxide are released when fossil fuels are burned and major global climate changes are predicted as carbon dioxide concentration increases in the atmosphere. Empower Materials has developed QPAC copolymers - materials derived from carbon dioxide, and produced through the copolymerization of the gas with one or more epoxides. Empower Materials' polymers are a welcome alternatives to traditional fossil fuel based plastics, since in addition to helping reduce the use of fossil fuels, they can create a market for waste carbon dioxide.
They are a viable, eco-friendly alternative solution to carbon capture and carbon sequestration. Frost & Sullivan expects that the trend for alternatives to traditional materials to create a significant impact on the polymer manufacturing and processing domain, as a strong preference toward eco-friendly products is currently being emphasized. In this context, the catalyst, proprietary conditions and proprietary manufacturing process of Empower Materials has created a unique technology platform."