Towards a Greener Chemistry

Green chemistry, also called sustainable chemistry, is a philosophy of chemical research and engineering that encourages the design of products and processes that minimize chemicals-related hazards. It includes energy conservation, waste reduction, and life cycle considerations such as the use of more sustainable or renewable feedstocks and designing for end of life or the final disposition of the product.

The concept of Green Chemistry has its roots in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) but the idea of remediation and prevention was growing up little by little into the minds of scientists, politicians and experts. It was in the 1960s when they realized that some chemicals in common use were suspected of causing or directly linked to cancer and other adverse human and environmental health problems. Attention on chemicals continued growing up and people began to be aware about pollutants and resources and their misused.

Along this decades attention was given to the effects of certain pollutants identified as the cause of acid rains and the ozone hall. In the 1980s scientists were more focused in the cleaning up and remediation of pollutants and toxins; while in the 1990s they raised awareness on pollution prevention. There was a need for new concepts, new definitions; along these two decades there was a real blooming of new terms as clean chemistry, environmental chemistry, sustainable or green chemistry.

Over the years different principles have been proposed to be used when thinking about the design, development and implementation of chemical products and processes. In 1998 Paul Anastas and John Warner published the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, which included: prevention of waste, designing safer chemicals, use of renewable feedstock, design for innocuous degradation products and minimization of chemical-related accidents.

These principles can seem easy to be implemented, but scientists and engineers have to be concerned not only about “science” but also about economical factors. It is not that easy to be innovative and creative to find less energy demanding processes and to replace hazardous substances used as source materials. The use of renewable and sustainable materials from a product life cycle perspective needs to be taken into account.

Chemical Monitoring is exploring how industry is evolving in the way of thinking chemistry to develop more sustainable industry processes and less hazardous products. In the upcoming articles specific examples and case studies will be presented. For more information and contributions, feel free to take contact with us: info@mychemicalmonitoring.com 

Subscribe to our newsletter to remain updated on our findings.

Related Links:

Author: