Sustainability is one of the major concerns of the chemical industry today. The industry has taken cognizance of the severity of the issue and the global chemical fraternity is consciously aiming to incorporate product sustainability in their value chain. Applying green chemistry metrics to the chemical processes can play a pivotal role in minimising the discharge of hazardous substances in the environment. It enforces the substitution of these toxic chemical ingredients used in industrial manufacturing, with green (eco-friendly/biodegradable) materials.
Green chemistry reduces pollution to an extent at its source by minimising or eliminating the hazards of chemical feedstocks, reagents, solvents, and products. For greening of existing products and development of new products, chemical companies can take the following steps:
- Reducing the dependence on fossil fuels
Chemical companies in India and other countries have been relying on fossil fuel-based hydrocarbons to form dyes and develop almost every chemical or material within the marketplace. This dependence cannot continue for long if we want sustainable development of the industry without deteriorating our environment. Fossil fuels aren’t just used as a feedstock for the chemical reactions, they also supply the required heat and pressure to carry out the processes. One of the main downsides of this dependence is that the combustion of these naturally fossilized substances produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and other waste products that are harmful to human health and the environment.
Using raw materials and feedstocks that are renewable rather than depleting will help in reducing the dependency on fossil fuels. These feedstocks are often made from products related to agriculture or the wastes of other processes. Depleting feedstocks are made from petroleum, natural gas, coal or are mined.
- Formulating products with little or no toxicity to humans and the environment
One of the most important steps during formulating and developing a product is the selection of raw materials and manufacturing inputs. The selection of raw materials, chemicals, or substances that are used to manufacture a product can determine how consumers perceive a product and its impact on human health and the environment. Over several thousands of commercial products have been registered for use in India, which are of the foremost concern and require alternatives.
- Designing chemical products to break down into harmless substances
Designing products for degradation is another principle of green chemistry. Chemical products should be designed in such a way that they could be broken down into innocuous substances after use, it will prevent them from getting accumulated in the environment. Products should be stable and not highly reactive for their intended use lifetime before being rapidly degraded once they enter the environment. To tackle the growing issue of chemicals in the environment, research is needed to study molecular triggers or chemical switches to activate the degradation of active ingredients following excretion into the environment after use.
- Importance of R&D in manufacturing Green Products: Researchand development plays a critical role in managing and reducing environmental impact across all activities, products, and programs right from their creation until disposal. It constantly reinvigorates companies to pioneer innovative processes which make efficient use of natural resources at their disposal.
Following the principles of sustainable chemistry will minimize the usage of unnecessary chemicals and reduce the amount of waste that is generated. This will allow for better efficiencies which in turn result in lower costs and higher profits that will definitely benefit the speciality chemical industry and propel us to the top!
