Clean Tech
Protecting the Chemistry of Sustainability and Circular Innovation
Green chemistry isn’t just a regulatory box to check—it’s a competitive driver for companies advancing low-carbon, low-toxicity, and resource-efficient solutions. At Schmeiser Olsen, we help clients protect the chemical innovations that support environmental performance—from bio-based materials and recyclable polymers to solvent-free processes and carbon capture systems.
We work with innovators developing clean manufacturing processes, waste conversion technologies, and greener alternatives to conventional chemical inputs. Our attorneys understand how to turn sustainability-focused chemistry into enforceable, commercially relevant IP.
We protect the materials, processes, and platforms advancing the future of sustainable industry.
Patent Strategy for Green Chemistry & Sustainable Technologies
Clean tech innovation is highly interdisciplinary—often combining chemical synthesis, catalysis, materials science, and process engineering. Our approach to patent strategy focuses on capturing both technical performance and environmental benefit. We help clients secure patents that reflect not just environmental value, but clear advances in reaction efficiency, yield, safety, or lifecycle impact. We support patent development in areas including:
Renewable & Bio-Based Materials
– Polymers and composites derived from plant-based monomers or agricultural waste
– Bio-sourced surfactants, solvents, and functional additives
– Enzymatic or microbial production of chemical intermediates
– Biodegradable packaging materials with performance-tailored properties
Low-Energy and Solvent-Free Processes
– Catalysts enabling ambient-temperature or solventless reactions
– Solid-state synthesis with minimized reaction byproducts
– Aqueous-based formulations with equivalent or superior performance
– Continuous-flow chemistry platforms for safer, smaller-footprint production
Carbon Capture & Emissions Reduction
– Chemical absorption systems for CO₂, NOx, or SOx mitigation
– Mineralization or conversion of CO₂ to value-added intermediates
– Catalytic pathways for methane reforming or carbon-neutral syngas
– Reactive capture strategies integrated into process loops or emissions streams
Waste Valorization & Circular Chemistry
– Upcycling of plastic waste into monomers or fuel
– Solvent recovery and reuse in closed-loop systems
– Chemical recycling pathways for thermosets, elastomers, or composites
– Biomass conversion to platform chemicals and renewable fuels
practical insight
Navigating Challenges in Green Chemistry Patents
Patent challenges in green chemistry often involve defining the environmental advantage without relying solely on policy framing or generic sustainability claims. We help clients address:
– Support for performance-based claims—e.g., reaction conditions, lifecycle metrics, or product equivalence
– Integration with legacy systems—positioning green tech as a drop-in or hybrid solution
– Blending regulatory and technical value—protecting methods that meet REACH, TSCA, or EPA standards
– Trade secret considerations for proprietary process tuning, waste streams, or emissions optimization
– Portfolio strategy across regions with differing green patent incentives
We structure IP strategies that support product differentiation, ESG goals, and long-term commercial value—while anticipating scrutiny from both regulators and competitors.
Partner with Counsel Who Understand Sustainable Chemistry
At Schmeiser Olsen, we support clients at the intersection of science, sustainability, and commercial innovation. Whether you’re scaling a bio-based platform, optimizing waste valorization, or developing circular chemistry solutions, we help protect the core IP that drives long-term environmental and business success.
Protect what makes your chemistry cleaner—with patent counsel fluent in green innovation, industrial processes, and chemical sustainability.
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