Dec 15 2012
Renewable chemicals and fuels producer OPX Biotechnologies Inc. (OPXBIO) has achieved Responsible Care® Management System certification, the chemical industry’s gold standard for health and safety management. The certification, which is administered through the American Chemistry Council (ACC), is typically achieved after a three-year process; OPXBIO completed the certification ahead of schedule.
“Health and safety management has been strongly ingrained in OPXBIO’s culture and operations because it’s consistent with our company value of stewardship,” said Charles R. (Chas) Eggert, chief executive officer, OPX Biotechnologies. “A big advantage of being a startup company is having the opportunity to build health, safety, and environmental responsibility into your processes right from the start. We are working to bring good chemistry to people and the planet by developing and producing bio-based chemicals and biofuels. We are also ensuring we have good chemistry in our workplace and community, including the right health, safety and environmental protocols.”
The certification is part of the ACC’s Responsible Care Initiative and measures company performance success in community awareness and emergency response, security, distribution, employee health and safety, pollution prevention and process and product safety. Companies participating in this initiative are closely monitored by auditors who ensure applicants follow stringent industry best practices.
Using its proprietary EDGE™ (Efficiency Directed Genome Engineering) process and technology, OPXBIO creates bio-based chemicals that deliver more sustainable value compared to traditional, petroleum-based chemicals. The company is currently working with The Dow Chemical Co. to bring BioAcrylic – a direct and more-sustainable replacement for petro-based acrylic – into the $10-billion acrylic acid market for use in consumer products such as diapers, detergents, paints and adhesives. In addition to BioAcrylic, OPXBIO has demonstrated lab-scale production of its second product – fatty acid from syngas feedstock for chemical and fuel applications.
Source: http://www.opxbio.com/