GreenChemINDUSTRY
Looking for ways to green up your business or manufacturing process?
Green Chemistry is delivering materials technology that, as well as being clean and green, is also practical and profitable, so it's not just good for the environment, but it's the future of business too.
- Create safer, greener products.
- Select better starting materials
- Reduce cost of inputs
- Reduce waste
- Save water and energy
- Improve safety and environmental performance
- Simplify compliance
- Operate more efficiently and more profitably
- Make your business more sustainable
Sounds too simple? Well, it depends on the nature of your business, but remember, green chemistry addresses material and pollution issues at a fundamental, molecular level, so even a small adjustment can lead to significant and very positive change. What's more, it can be easier to achieve than you may think.
There is increasing support and opportunities for green innovation in business, here's a few resources to get you on track.
Getting started
Green Chemistry Toolkit (Envirowise)
Discusses green chemistry in the context of supply chain management, provides advice for managers and has a diagnostic tool.
chEMPOWER (ACS-GCI)
The ACS Green Chemistry Institute set up this initiative to expand the awareness and practice of Green Chemistry. Try the Quiz.
Supporting innovation
Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3)
The Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3) is a business-to-business forum for advancing green chemistry and design for environment in commerce and with regard to sustainable supply chain management. The mission of the GC3 is to promote and support green chemistry and the design for environment approach to research and practices nationally and internationally among companies and other governmental and non-governmental entities.
ACS GCI Pharmaceutical Roundtable (ACS GCIPR)
ACS Green Chemistry Institute created this forum for the sharing of ideas and experience in the implementation of green chemistry in the global pharmaceutical industry.
Green Electronics Council (USA)
A program of the International Sustainable Development Foundation, a charitable non-profit based in Portland, Oregon, USA. The GEC supports the effective design, manufacture, use and recovery of electronic products. GEC also administers EPEAT , a green electronics “certification” and purchasing system.
European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry. Seeks to boost chemistry, biotechnology and chemical engineering research, development and innovation in Europe.
European Association for Bioindustries. Members of EuropaBio are involved in research, development, testing, manufacturing and commercialisation of biotechnology products and processes.
Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (Canada)
Based at the University of Western Ontario, The SCA is promoting commercialisation of sustainable chemistry technologies.
Green certification programs
Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (USA)
This Californian non-profit organisation promotes an innovation-oriented model for eliminating toxic chemicals and other negative environmental impacts. They provide Cradle to Cradle® certification - an eco-label that assesses a product’s safety to humans and the environment and whole of life cycle design. You'll find more information on this certification process here.
Green Seal (USA)
A for not-for-profit organisation providing third party certification of environmentally preferable products and services.
Ecologo Program (Canada)
A for profit organisation providing third party certification of environmentally preferable products and services.
EPEAT Green Electronics (International)
Global register for green electronics (computing). Manufacturers add their products to the registry by declaring that the products meet criteria of IEEE 1680. Product declarations are not precertified; but verification testing is randomly performed by EPEAT on registered products.
Product assessment tools
Greenlist™ (SC Johnson)
SC Johnson developed the Greenlist™ process to environmentally rate ingredients used in their products. Winner of a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, this process helps identify the best and worst environmental performers is a product line. It is available via a royalty free licence.
GreenScreen (Clean Production Action)
GreenScreen is a comparative chemical hazard assessment tool, used to identify safer alternatives in product formulation and manufacturing. Developed by the US NGO, Clean Production Action, Green Screen is used by HP and Walmart. Documentation for performing an assessment is available for free on this site.
GreenWercs is an ingredient-based, chemical hazard ranking system that can be used to assess the environmental and safety performance of products and product formulations. This is a software package developed and marketed by a private company.
Sourcing greener materials
Want to upgrade your PC? EPEAT is a global registry for greener electronics with an environmental performance rating for registered products. Contains over 3,200 products from 45 manufacturers in 41 countries.
Research and Development
If you are interested in outsourcing, collaborating, or just seeking advice, why not contact a Green Chemistry Research Centre.
Need more info on green chemistry? Trying to find a resource or solve a specific problem? Perhaps we can help, or at least point you in the right direction. Follow this link to our contact page and drop us a line.
Further reading
Resource efficiency through green chemistry (Envirowise) PDF download
Better living through green chemistry (New Scientist)
Green chemistry becomes a core element of industry (Greenbiz.com)
Green chemistry is good for business (Forbes.com)
The importance of green chemistry (Energyboom.com)
Green Chemistry Will Save Industry $65.5 Billion by 2020 (PikeResearch.com)
