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Robert Peoples, Ph.D., is Director of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute®. In this capacity, he drives the implementation of the principles of green chemistry across the global chemical enterprise.

Dr. Peoples is a 30 year veteran of the chemical industry and has been a member of American Chemical Society (ACS) for 35 years,…

Robert Peoples, Ph.D., is Director of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute®. In this capacity, he drives the implementation of the principles of green chemistry across the global chemical enterprise.

Dr. Peoples is a 30 year veteran of the chemical industry and has been a member of American Chemical Society (ACS) for 35 years, giving him valuable experience and insight into the global chemical enterprise. Immediately prior to becoming Director of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute®, he served as Sustainability Director for the Carpet & Rug Institute and Executive Director of The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE). He is also President of the Environmental Impact Group, Inc. Dr. Peoples was a key driver in the development of the NSF 140 Sustainable Carpet ANSI Standard. He is currently facilitating the development of an ANSI standard for Greener Chemical Products and Process Information, a B2B tool.

Preceding this position, Dr. Peoples was Director of Sustainability and Market Development at Solutia, Inc., a spin-off of Monsanto Corporation, where he was actively involved in carpet reclamation and negotiations that led to the formation of CARE and carpet-related health and indoor air quality issues. He is a founding member of the CARE Board of Directors where he still serves. In 2003, he was the first recipient of the Carpet America Recovery Effort “Person of the Year” award.

Dr. Peoples was a member of the team that developed Monsanto’s patented revolutionary stain blocker and fluorochemistry technology for the carpet industry. Following this development, he led the technical team for the commercialization of Flectron® Metalized Materials, a new business for Monsanto and part of the Advanced Performance Materials Division. In 1992, he was appointed head of Carpet New Products in Pensacola, FL, and held several positions of increasing responsibility including Director of Nylon Technology.

An internationally recognized speaker in the areas of green chemistry, sustainability, standards, innovation, and carpet reclamation, Dr. Peoples holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and chemistry from Montclair State University and a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry from Purdue University. He holds several patents and numerous publications. He serves on several boards including: Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), California’s Green Ribbon Science Panel, Chemical Sciences Roundtable of the National Academies of Science, The University of Pennsylvania Chemistry Scientific Advisory Committee, and serves as Co-chair of the 2011 15th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference.