Shining a light on green chemistry

What is green chemistry? How to apply green chemistry principles at the product design phase? How do we ensure that all substances we manufacture have as little impact on health and the environment as possible? John Warner, one of the founders of green chemistry and Chief Technology Officer of Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, flew in from the US to Brussels for a two-day “Green chemistry bootcamp’ organised by Cefic for its members and students studying chemistry from all across Europe.

Chemistry is key in meeting our society’s challenge of creating a more circular and low carbon economy, confirmed Warner, who is himself a holder of more than 200 patents for the technologies he has invented. While explaining his 12 principles of green chemistry, he stressed that green chemistry can be and is consistent with business development, creates competitive advantage and results in savings for manufacturers and society in the long-term perspective.

Invention and innovation are at the heart of the chemical industry’s value to the society. This is why the industry should never cut spending on its R&D, advised Warner.

One of the emerging trends in green chemistry is deriving inspiration from nature. As scientists become more proficient in mimicking the way biological systems function, this area of research opens a way to creating technologies that can help us harness renewable energy, conserve water, build more energy-efficient buildings etc.

But any invention should be developed with an eye towards market acceptance and commercialisation, so that we actually create something that will work in the real-life environment, warned John Warner. This is why equal time should be spent on designing feasible prototypes and commercialisation as on research itself, he explained. 

Overall, scientists should also be more open and outspoken about their work. They should not be afraid to engage with policymakers and the general public to explain what they are doing and what they are working on, as there are a lot of amazing things that we chemists are doing, concluded John Warner.