Ecology Coatings Inc. has been nominated for the Michigan Green Chemistry Governor’s Award Program for 2011.

WARREN, MI – Ecology Coatings Inc., a leader in the discovery and development of nanotechnology-enabled, ultraviolet-curable advanced coatings, has been nominated for the Michigan Green Chemistry Governor’s Award Program for 2011. The program was established by the Michigan Green Chemistry Roundtable to recognize innovations in green chemistry. Winners will be notified October 27, 2011.

Green chemistry is defined as a process or product that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances from chemical products and processes. Ecology Coatings was nominated based on its GRAS (generally regarded as safe) coatings, which can be applied to food or used in food packaging. Ecology’s GRAS coatings not only protect food from outside elements, but are safe for human consumption, as they use natural ingredients and do not contain plastics or other chemicals derived from fossil fuels.

As Ecology Coatings’ technology is novel and unique, the company filed a WCT patent application for its GRAS coatings technology. In May 2011, the U.S. Patent Office agreed that the claims made by Ecology were indeed novel, non-obvious and have industrial utility, corroborating the unique nature of the technology. Ecology has filed for accelerated patent approval, which is expected in 2012.

Ecology’s GRAS coatings are cured at a very rapid rate resulting in a coating with barrier properties to air, solvents, water or grease. Potential uses include coatings for food packaging, wrappings for meat, snack foods and pet food packaging. Since the coating will resist grease, food will be presented in a cleaner, more appealing and cost effective package.