SUSTAINABILITY replacement of hazardous chemicals like phosgene , polyacrylamides and tributyltin hydride . 10 Funding programmes and chemical legislation have sought to build on these achievements , as seen in REACH or US EPA initiatives . However , critics observe that Green Chemistry focuses on providing scientific and technical guidance on synthesis : it does not address material flows throughout the complete life cycle of a product or its economic , societal and cultural impacts . 11-13 Use of the term Sustainable Chemistry began in the late 1990s and initially it was used in ways synonymous with Green Chemistry . While some commentators still use the terms interchangeably , most researchers still make a clear distinction between the two . Sustainable Chemistry builds on Green Chemistry and relies on the 12 principles as its own scientific basis . 14 However , the scope of Sustainable Chemistry extends to include the entire lifecycle of chemical products , taking a holistic approach and acknowledging regional , societal and cultural differences , as well as
11 , 14
economics , policies and education . There is no one single official definition of Sustainable Chemistry but multiple interpretations from academia , chemical societies and global organisations . The terms are widely debated , but in this article , we use the terms ‘ Green and Sustainable Chemistry ’ and ‘ Chemistry for Sustainability ’ synonymously . Surveys by the UN Environment Programme and the US Government Accountability Office found that most respondents would find an internationally accepted definition of Sustainable Chemistry valuable and helpful . 15 , 16 The Framework Manual on Green & Sustainable Chemistry from UNEP provides ‘ Ten objectives and guiding considerations for what green and sustainable chemistry seeks to achieve ' which can be used as guidance in the absence of a consensus definition ( Figure 2 ). 17 All the aforementioned definitions and objectives are high-level and as a result lack reference to the methods and metrics that would be needed to measure performance , implementation and progress . This shortfall has had clear consequences . Many chemical companies , including such giants as BASF and Dow , have developed their own assessment methods for promoting innovation in the sustainability performance of their chemical products . 18 , 19 While these methods allow a specific company to assess its performance and potential for improvement , proliferation creates a barrier to comparisons between different companies and consideration of the aggregate performance of the sector . The lack of standards also means that the trade-off between impacts has not been addressed . As a result , the potential for accusations of greenwash leads to hesitancy in making choices and communicating progress . Below , we consider EU and global policy and regulatory initiatives that address these risks and provide the private sector with guidance on assessing the sustainability of chemicals processes and products .
Leading policy & strategic initiatives
Europe ’ s ambition to transition to the first climate-neutral continent is evidenced in the European Green Deal . A heroic undertaking , it spans eight major policy areas , reviewing current laws and adapting them to turn environmental challenges into future opportunities . A key objective is to expand and clarify current product sustainability requirements ; providing certainty as to which products and activities can be claimed to be sustainable , to create a level playing field throughout the EU and avoiding the risks of greenwash . The Sustainable Products Initiative , which “ aims to make products placed on the EU market more sustainable ”,
‣
Figure 2 - The ten objectives & buiding considerations of Sustainable Chemistry
57