Accelerating Sustainability: Green Chemistry Practices in Various Industries


10/18/2023


The incorporation of eco-friendly and sustainable chemical practices in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, fashion, and electronics, can expedite the transition towards a healthier and more sustainable world.

These practices, such as utilizing safer and more sustainable raw materials, reagents, and solvents to manufacture chemical products or designing them for reuse or recycling, can be implemented throughout a product’s life cycle. This circular approach to green and sustainable chemistry can aid industry leaders in preventing pollution and designing safer products at the molecular level.

Collaboration within the industry is vital to stimulate conversation and promote innovative strategies and policies that can systematically change how chemistry is perceived and practiced. This gives companies and organizations the knowledge and framework to address sustainability through chemistry more effectively. In this context, MilliporeSigma, the Life Science business of Merck KGaA in the U.S. and Canada, will host Change Chemistry.

This nonprofit organization is dedicated to assisting companies in scaling and implementing greener, safer, and more sustainable chemistries. The 2023 U.S. Innovators Roundtable will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, from November 14-16, 2023. The event will also be available virtually, with registration tickets open for purchase.

The Innovators Roundtable brings together leading innovators, investors, government officials, startups, academics, and non-profit sectors in the green and sustainable chemistry space. The event will feature keynote speeches, informative panel sessions, and breakout discussions with leaders like Dr. John Warner, recognized as one of the co-founders of green chemistry.

A 2021 report by Change Chemistry—formerly known as The Green Chemistry & Commerce Council—in collaboration with NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, North Carolina State University, the Dynamic Sustainability Lab at Syracuse University and Duke University revealed that 84% of companies have increased their investment in R&D of green chemistry products. Almost all of them expect this trend to continue over the next five years. This highlights the need for ongoing industry collaboration and partnership to speed up the implementation of green chemistry.

As it is predicted that companies will continue to invest in green chemistry in the coming years, it is crucial to equip the next generation of scientists and researchers with the necessary green skills to enter the industry. This will be a topic of discussion at many sessions during the event. One such session will focus on the importance of green chemistry education featuring industry leaders like Dr. Amy Cannon, co-founder and executive director of Beyond Benign.

To know more about MilliporeSigma’s Sustainability & Social Business Innovation, click here