Eastman Chemical Co. introduced a green manufacturing process that uses the U.S. EPA’s 12 principles of green chemistry – GEM technology – to launch ingredients in the color cosmetic and skin care markets during first quarter 2011, with future product extensions into other markets and applications.

Formerly called the green biocatalytic process, GEM technology was awarded the EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Award in 2009. The award recognizes technologies that incorporate the 12 principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture and use.

The technology uses enzymatic technology and closely controlled manufacturing conditions to make esters, eliminating the high temperature and strong acids traditionally required in their manufacture. Esters are a vital building block in thousands of products. Eastman’s “gentler” technology consumes less energy while making high-quality products, even when beginning with sensitive starting materials.

Eastman will formally unveil its GEM Technology at in-cosmetics Europe, held March 29-31, 2011, in Milan, Italy.