Sean Hunt

Many chemicals used in households and factories today are manufactured from petroleum. Sean Hunt, 33, cofounded Solugen, which uses enzymes and metal catalysts to turn sugar into industrial chemicals with a much lower carbon footprint. The company’s first facility, in Texas, can crank out 10,000 tons per year of chemicals used in water treatment, agriculture, and industrial cleaners, offsetting more than 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. It operates on 100% renewable electricity and doesn’t generate any emissions or wastewater.