What is the role of green chemistry in sustainable product development?

The 12 principles of green chemistry are in a nutshell trying to futureproof the production of chemicals as feedstock for our daily usage. Sustainability would mean to be able to carry on doing what we do for a long time to come without risk of climate change and other geopolitical and economic risks. These fit into the 12 principles which essentially are elements which reduces waste, reduce energy usage, reduce process and occupational safety risk, reduce raw materials, defossilise raw material supply chain as well as reduce harm to the environment. The reduction and change of the following elements allow for chemical manufacturing to be able to continue and be fit for the future.

Green chemistry follows 12 principles, including waste prevention, designing safer products, using renewable resources, minimizing auxiliary substances, increasing atom efficiency, employing green analytical methods, designing for degradation, real-time monitoring, accident reduction, considering environmental and social impacts, promoting innovation, and educating future green chemists.

Green chemistry is basically the technique which tell about how the chemistry should practice such as No hazardous waste generation, Reduce toxic derivative, real time monitoring, designing etc as companies has to spent alot on the cleanup of waste.. Waste also leads to several environmental ossue

Green chemistry benefits sustainable product development by improving environmental performance, reducing costs and risks, enhancing competitiveness and reputation, opening new markets, fostering innovation, supporting the circular economy, and contributing to Sustainable Development Goals.

One of the fundamental goals of industrial chemistry is to better human life by manufacturing products that benefit society. Hence, it is also fitting that this is done with minimal impact to the environment to be sustainable. Besides the climate change prevention part, green chemistry is also a cost lever for corporations. Safer process unit operations would maintain the license to operate in the jurisdiction. Improved energy efficiency would deliver cost saving to the operating costs of the organisation. By controlling selectivity of reactionb and to improve yield, one could reduce additional processing cost for side products as well as wastes.

Green chemistry is a game-changer in sustainable product development, a perspective I've embraced in my consulting work. It goes beyond environmental benefits; it's about creating a new paradigm in business operations. For instance, in a project I've worked on development, integrating green chemistry principles not only enhanced product safety but also opened up new market niches, echoing its role in stimulating innovation. It's crucial to view green chemistry as an enabler of both ecological and economic growth, aligning with the broader sustainable development goals. This dual impact – environmental protection and business competitiveness – is what makes green chemistry indispensable in today's market.

Greem chemistry generally help a lot to reduce the waste which help in supporting reduce the environmental issue and support SDG such as life below water by reducing algae bloom.. reduce poverty and hunger by reducing soil pollution and water pollution.. Green chemistry is all about finding alternative of hazardous product

I was among the founders of CleanWell. The foundational ingredient is a wild crafted thyme-based disinfectant. The EPA registered formula is an example of green chemistry. You can find CleanWell Inside (look for the leaf logo) of a range of Seventh Generation products.

Green chemistry finds application across diverse sectors: Pharmaceuticals: Reduces environmental impact in drug discovery and production through safer solvents, catalysts, and processes. Agriculture: Promotes sustainable agricultural practices with bio-based fertilizers, pesticides, and climate-resilient crop designs. Cosmetics: Creates natural and organic cosmetics using renewable and biodegradable ingredients. Textiles: Produces eco-friendly fabrics and dyes with bio-based materials like cotton, hemp, and silk, avoiding toxic substances. Green chemistry contributes to sustainable and environmentally responsible practices within pharmaceuticals, agriculture, cosmetics, and textiles.

Defossilation of the chemical industry is an example of green chemistry. Carbon is not bad. It is the building block for life as well as many chemicals which is in turn used to manufacture the commodities we all use. Hence, similar to energy, the demand itself would not go away. Using the principles of green chemistry, one could defossilise the supply chain for chemical manufacturing. Using renewable feedstocks as well as renewable energy, one could reduce thecarbon footprint for scope 1,2 and 3 of the organisation. Examples would be to use renewable natural gas/biomethane instead of natural gas for production. Of course, the adoption of defossilation is a global collaboration and should involve various stateholders.

Green chemistry has various challenges such as finding the less hazardous product, lack of standard, modern designed equipment, real time monitoring

The challenges of green chemistry are significant yet surmountable. The key hurdle (if we can even call it that) is the gap in awareness and education among key players. In my experience, fostering an understanding of green chemistry's long-term value is crucial. For example, in a collaborative project, overcoming these barriers involved not just technological innovation but also strategic stakeholder engagement. Addressing these challenges means creating robust policies, incentivizing green research, and developing clear standards. Bridging these gaps can accelerate the adoption of green chemistry, turning obstacles into opportunities for sustainable advancement.

Green chemistry is like a sustainability superhero for product development. It helps make products kinder to the planet by using safer materials, reducing waste, and saving resources. Think cleaner, greener, and better for everyone!

Green chemistry plays a vital role in sustainable product development through maximizing efficiency and safety in aspects of:- chemicals should be safe, resources conversation, life cycle of product from raw material extraction to disposal, innovation and regular compliance of government body.