EPA Kicks-Off ‘Companies Crushing Pollution’ Video Challenge

Students and others invited to submit videos that show pollution prevention activities at U.S. businesses

Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the launch of the “Companies Crushing Pollution” Video Challenge. The Challenge invites students and others including people who live near industrial facilities to create videos illustrating how businesses in the U.S. are reducing toxic chemical releases through innovative pollution prevention (P2) practices, and by having a positive impact on the environment and communities. Participants have a chance to win up to $5,000.

“This Challenge is an opportunity for anyone with access to a video camera – including a smartphone – to demonstrate creativity and highlight the incredible ways that businesses operating in the United States are reducing, eliminating or preventing pollution at its source,” said Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pollution Prevention Jennie Romer in EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “Pollution prevention helps protect the environment and cut costs for businesses. Winning entries from this challenge will help spread the word about these important practices.”

The Challenge invites students and other individuals, including residents of communities with facilities that report to EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), to use the TRI P2 Search Tool to identify a facility that has reported innovative pollution prevention techniques to EPA and make a video illustrating those techniques.

EPA will award a total of $50,000 in prize money through the video challenge. Awards will be given to individuals and/or teams in three categories: High School, Colleges/Universities, and “Open,” with up to 9 awards in each category. The “Companies Crushing Pollution” Video Challenge aims to:

Promote pollution prevention innovation among companies operating in the U.S.
Raise awareness of the potential for businesses to save money, reduce regulatory burden, and have positive environmental impacts on communities through pollution prevention.
Increase knowledge of TRI reporting and analytical tools to find and communicate information about pollution prevention actions that have been implemented.
Showcase companies implementing forward-looking pollution prevention practices and highlight their success stories.

On December 15, 2021, EPA will host a webinar to discuss challenge logistics and rules. Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions. Register for the webinar.

Pollution prevention is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source. Pollution prevention, also known as “source reduction,” is the “ounce-of-prevention is worth a pound-of-cure” approach that helps businesses to succeed. EPA works closely with stakeholders including companies, consumers and organizations serving overburdened and underserved communities to help facilitate adoption of pollution prevention practices. Reducing the amount of pollution means reduced costs for businesses because there is less waste to control, treat, or dispose of. More importantly, less pollution means less hazards posed to workers and communities, helping to improve public health and environmental conditions.

Between 2011 and 2019, EPA’s P2 technical assistance grants helped American businesses save an estimated $1.9 billion, reduce 706 million pounds of hazardous materials, and eliminate 16.9 million metric tons of greenhouse gasses.

All videos must be submitted by March 1, 2022.

Read more about EPA’s Pollution Prevention program

Read more about EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory program

Details on the Companies Crushing Pollution Video Challenge