Category:	Science and Technology
Domain:	Chemistry
Keywords:	Pollution Prevention - sustainability, green labs, toxic waste, chemicals
Outlook:	As students who learn in ‘green’ laboratories apply their knowledge in industry, environmentally responsible practices for the design, manufacture, and disposal of chemicals may replace unsustainable practices.
Summary Analysis:	The chemical industry produces enormous quantities of hazardous solid, liquid, and gas, as by-products and also as intended products. However, growing awareness of unsustainable chemical industry practices is leading governments and educators to invest in the development of new chemical manufacturing and disposal processes that reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous waste. The staggering costs of environmental remediation of contaminated sites and waterways may make the promotion of green chemistry practices increasingly attractive to both government and industry. The adoption of green methods may be aided by the entry of new graduates into the field of chemistry. As students who have trained in green laboratories that emphasise sustainable methods enter industry, they may apply these principles and techniques to an increasing array of chemical processes. In addition, green chemistry may invigorate the industry. One major task force report noted that 'the incorporation of green chemistry and related approaches into the training of current and potential science students increases the effectiveness of recruitment and retention efforts in this crucial field.'

	Implications:	Reduced waste from chemical manufacturing processes Fewer chemicals accumulating in the environment Heavier reliance on catalysts over stoichiometric reagents
	Early Indicators:	Establishment by the US EPA of its Green Chemistry Program
	What to Watch:	Consumer products tout certification of their 'green manufacturing'. Green-process plants with significantly reduced safety risks go online. All university and secondary school chemistry teaching labs go green.
	Parallels/Precedents:	The rise of organic farming and green power production
	Enablers/drivers:	Progress in combinatorial chemistry yielding new catalysts and reagents Advances in molecular modeling
	Leaders:	Regions: Europe, Japan, US Institutions: Carnegie-Mellon University (work of Terry Collins) [link] Green Chemistry Institute (work of Dennis Hjeresen) York University (UK) [link] Leicester University [link] Worldwide Universities Network [link] Royal Society of Chemistry, Green Chemistry Network [link] US Environmental Protection Agency [link] Japan Chemical Innovation Institute [link] Brazil Green Chemistry interest group [link] GSK [link] Greenpeace [link]
	Figures:
	Sources:	"Green Chemistry Institute." American Chemical Society. [link] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Green Chemistry Program". [link] Hutchison J E. Fall 2000. "Why Green Chemistry?" American Chemical Society, Division of Chemical Education Newsletter. p54-55. Ritter S J. July 16, 2001. "Cover Story: Green Chemistry" Chemical & Engineering News. Volume 79, Number 29, p. 27-34. [link] "Student Affiliates Advance Green Chemistry" American Chemical Society website. [link] Paul T. Anastas and Mary M. Kirchhoff, Origins, Current Status, and Future Challenges of Green Chemistry, Acc. Chem. Res., 35 (9), 686 -694, 2002 [link] Alan D. Curzons et al, So you think your process is green, how do you know?—Using principles of sustainability to determine what is green–a corporate perspective, Green Chemistry, 3, 1 - 6, 2001 [link] David J. C. Constable et al, Green chemistry measures for process research and development, Green Chemistry, 3, 7 - 9, 2001 [link] Martyn Poliakoff et at, Green Chemistry: Science and Politics of Change, Science, 202, 807-810, 2002 [link]

	At A Glance:	When:	11–20 years
		Where:	Global
		How Fast:	Years
		Likelihood:	High
		Impact:	Medium-High
		Controversy:	Low

Related Outlooks: