Designing for a green chemistry future

Science, vol. 367, pp. 397–400

Abstract

The material basis of a sustainable society will depend on chemical products and processes that are designed following principles that make them conducive to life. Important inherent properties of molecules need to be considered from the earliest stage-the design stage-to address whether compounds and processes are depleting versus renewable, toxic versus benign, and persistent versus readily degradable. Products, feedstocks, and manufacturing processes will need to integrate the principles of green chemistry and green engineering under an expanded definition of performance that includes sustainability considerations. This transformation will require the best of the traditions of science and innovation coupled with new emerging systems thinking and systems design that begins at the molecular level and results in a positive impact on the global scale.

Authors 4

1. Julie Beth Zimmerman corresponding

   Yale University

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

   Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

   School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

2. Paul T. Anastas

   Yale University

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

   School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

   School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

3. Hanno C. Erythropel

   Yale University

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

   Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

4. Walter Leitner Aachen Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie

   Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany