Climate & Environment
Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry
Definition
The Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry, articulated by Paul Anastas and John Warner (1998), are the design framework for sustainable chemistry: prevent waste rather than treat it; maximise atom economy; design less hazardous syntheses; design safer chemicals; use safer solvents; increase energy efficiency; use renewable feedstocks; avoid derivatives; use catalysis; design for degradation; use real-time analysis for pollution prevention; and minimise accident potential. They are the field's constitution — adopted by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute and embedded in education and industry practice.
References
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This reference provides supporting context for how “Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry” is defined and used.
Overview
How it is used
The framework structures green chemistry R&D, sustainable chemistry education, regulatory promotion of safer alternatives, and industry sustainability metrics.
Why it matters
Chemistry makes everything else; the twelve principles are how the material world gets redesigned at source.