WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced on Friday that P2 Science, Inc., a biorenewable chemistry company in Woodbridge and Naugatuck, is “Murphy’s Innovator of the Month.” P2 focuses on creating safe and sustainable materials for cosmetic products. P2’s roots go back to Yale University, where the two founders met: Paul Anastas, professor and head of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, and Dr. Patrick Foley, his PhD student. The company was founded in 2009, and moved into its first green chemistry lab in Science Park, New Haven, in November 2011. Paul and Patrick built on many of the ideas they had discussed while working together at Yale. Elm Street Ventures, a Connecticut based venture fund, provided the first investment in P2 and recruited Neil Burns to be the company’s CEO. 

Following a successful collaboration with Desmet Ballestra sPa, a world-renowned engineering company famous for its work in vegetable oil handling and upgrading systems, P2 opened a larger facility in Woodbridge, where they are headquartered today. This past September, after many years of growth and backing from Connecticut Innovations, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, and Ironwood Capital, P2 opened its second facility in Naugatuck. Their Naugatuck plant will focus on renewable ingredients for fragrances, flavors and cosmetics. P2 currently employs 15 people and expects that number to double when their Naugatuck plant is at full capacity. 

“P2 is making the products we use every day safer and more environmentally friendly. Their innovative work could lead to more companies around the world adopting the same business model to provide safer and healthier products. I’m happy to highlight the great work they’re doing, and looking forward to watching them grow,” said Murphy. 

“We are committed to creating beautiful chemistry that transforms the materials we use every day,” said Pat Foley, co-founder of P2 Science, Inc. “As someone who was born and raised in the state of CT, it couldn’t be more gratifying to build a business here and have the state’s full support. CI and the DECD have been incredible allies. And it is a real honor to receive this recognition from Senator Murphy.” 

Murphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies – the Angel Tax Credit Act and the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year. 

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