Green Chemistry: Science and Politics of Change

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 297; no. 5582; pp. 807 - 810
• Main Authors: Poliakoff, Martyn, Fitzpatrick, J. Michael, Farren, Trevor R., Anastas, Paul T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association for the Advancement of Science 02.08.2002; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Barriers; Carbon Dioxide - chemistry; Case Studies; Catalysts; Chemical hazards; Chemical industry; Chemical processes; Chemicals; Chemicals industries; Chemistry; Chemistry - methods; Ecosystem; Emerging technology; Energy Conservation; Environmental aspects; Environmental Pollution - prevention & control; Environmental protection; Environmental technology; Globalization; Green chemistry; Hazardous Waste - prevention & control; Herbicides; Incentives; Industrial Waste - prevention & control; Industry - legislation & jurisprudence; Industry - methods; Industry - trends; Molecular Structure; Organic Chemistry; Outsourcing; Pesticides industry; Politics; Public Opinion; Renewable energy; Risk; Solvents; Solvents - chemistry; Sustainable Development; Viewpoints
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.297.5582.807

The chemical industry plays a key role in sustaining the world economy and underpinning future technologies, yet is under unprecedented pressure from the effects of globalization and change in many of its traditional markets. Against this background, what will be needed for the industry to embrace efforts to make it "greener"? We explore some of the issues raised by the development of "green chemistry" techniques and identify potential barriers to their implementation by industry.