Cross Plains Solutions’ PFAS-free firefighting product SoyFoam™ has earned the 2025 Green Chemistry Challenge Award in the category of Design of Safer and Degradable Chemicals, a national recognition sponsored by the American Chemical Society.
Farmer leaders Gene Stoel of Minnesota and Jason Swede of New York were present at the awards ceremony held at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington. Their involvement underscored the vital role U.S. soybean farmers played in supporting the development, testing and promotion of SoyFoam™, a soy-based innovation aimed at reducing chemical harm to people and the planet.
Stoel described the recognition as deeply meaningful to farmers like himself.
“A soy-based product winning this award shows that soybeans aren’t just a commodity, they’re a sustainable resource for innovation,” he said. “When your crop helps protect communities and firefighters, it gives a whole new meaning to what we do. It’s a point of pride to know that what we grow is helping save lives and reduce environmental harm.”
From Farm Fields to Fire Stations
Swede, a farmer from upstate New York, also attended the ceremony. Swede previously participated in the “Farm to Fire” live demonstration event in March 2024, where fire departments across the U.S. saw firsthand how SoyFoam™ performs in field conditions.
“From an economic perspective, this win helps open doors to new, high-value markets for U.S. soybean farmers,” Swede said. “When industries see U.S. Soy as a proven ingredient in advanced products, demand grows, and that’s good for every farmer. Diversification is key. Having uses like SoyFoam™ beyond food and feed helps stabilize markets and keep family farms viable.”
A Non-Toxic Alternative
SoyFoam™ TF-1122, made from sustainably grown soy protein, is 100 percent free of PFAS — the so-called “forever chemicals” that persist in the environment and are increasingly banned in firefighting products. The foam is GreenScreen Certified® Gold, readily biodegradable by OECD standards and 84 percent biobased under USDA BioPreferred® certification.
“Our team is incredibly honored … this award is a major milestone of recognition for our scientists and partners, such as U.S. Soy,” said Alan Snipes, CEO of Cross Plains Solutions. “We have worked together to launch SoyFoam™ into the marketplace so its benefits are already protecting firefighters from cancer and our communities from harmful chemicals.”
The Green Chemistry Challenge Awards, established in 1996, honor technological breakthroughs that reduce or eliminate hazardous substances in chemical processes. The joint EPA-ACS program recognizes innovations that provide both environmental and economic benefits, with SoyFoam™’s win marking a notable convergence of industrial science and farm-grown inputs.
Soy-Based Innovation Broadens
SoyFoam™ is not the first soy-based product recognized by the American Chemical Society for its environmental contributions. PureBond™ soy-bonded plywood, developed by Columbia Forest Products, previously won a Green Chemistry Award for eliminating formaldehyde adhesives in wood panels. By the end of 2025, the company expects to have shipped more than 200 million sheets of the cleaner, safer plywood for use in furniture, cabinetry and millwork.
The success of SoyFoam™ demonstrates how American farmers are helping address pressing public health and safety challenges. For Stoel and Swede, the award offers a moment of recognition and a sign of momentum.
“This is not just about chemistry. It’s about showing what’s possible when innovation and farming work together,” Stoel said.
About U.S. Soy
Representing the positive global impact of soy grown in the United States, the U.S. Soy brand exists to advance soy’s full potential as a solution for a better world — from supporting sustainable agriculture to enabling innovation across diverse industries. U.S. Soy is powered by the ingenuity of the industry; the unsurpassed quality, reliability, and sustainability of the soybeans grown by our farming families; and the commitment of the organizations that raise awareness, build demand, develop new markets, and discover new uses for soy and soy products. U.S. Soy, supported by the Soy Checkoff, envisions a world where soy is a fundamental ingredient in solving the broad challenges of humanity. To learn more about U.S. Soy visit USSOY.org.
Brought to you by U.S. Soy. Fully funded by the Soy Checkoff.
GreenScreen® Certified is an independent certification program owned by the nonprofit Clean Production Action, which promotes the use of PFAS-free and preferred chemicals in materials, products, and manufacturing.
