Sustainable chemistry :
Challenges & opportunities
Ruaa Ahmad and Elena Heusner of global consultancy ERM provide an overview of developments in Sustainable Chemistry , and the emerging risks and opportunities
Around 80 % of the environmental footprint of a product is determined at the design stage , yet accounting for sustainability in design is relatively rare . 1-3 Sustainable product design is perceived as adding complexity to product development , as it might conflict with existing product requirements , the expectations of customers and regulatory approvals . 4 At the same time , the demand for ‘ greener ’ products is steadily rising . Nearly 30 % of consumers – 45 % in Generation Z - have stopped buying certain products due to ethical or environmental concerns . 5 Companies also face increasing pressure from regulators . The EU ’ s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability will change the current regulatory framework for chemicals in the EU and beyond . This is only one example of ongoing policy changes that are of particular relevance to the chemical sector . The sector is thus at a crossroads : global sales of chemicals are expected to grow significantly and are likely to reach $ 10 trillion in 2030 . 6 At the same time , the quantity of natural resources extracted and the amount of waste generated is steadily increasing year on year . 7 , 8 The chemical industry delivers the building blocks that almost every other sector depends on for its production . As a result , its operations have a significant influence on the entire industrial value chain and chemical companies have a unique opportunity to lead the transformation to a more sustainable future . Inevitably , such a transition will come at a price . However , opportunities will be available to those companies who are open to new business models and are willing to become first adopters . The potential rewards , including mitigated costs and lost revenues , are considerable .
Green & sustainable chemistry
Sustainable product design , commonly known as ecodesign in some sectors , aims to reduce environmental impacts at a very early stage in the product life cycle . For the chemical sector , consideration at
Figure 1 - The 12 principles of Green Chemistry the design phase should include the concepts of Green Chemistry and Sustainable Chemistry . Green Chemistry can be traced back to the early 1980s but gained momentum when Paul Anastas and John Warner published the 12 principles of Green Chemistry . 9 These principles focus on reducing or eliminating the use of hazardous substances in the design and production of chemicals ( Figure 1 ). Green Chemistry has accelerated the deployment of less hazardous materials and has contributed to an awareness of the impact of chemicals on human health and the environment . Examples include development of solvent-free processes and the
56 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981