The future is Green!

The evolution is here -  A way towards a sustainable environment

Twitter Handle: @shuchi_nahar

What is Green Chemistry?

Green chemistry is an emerging focus among manufacturing industries that minimizes pollution at a molecular level. Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Companies are actively designing novel concepts to reduce the emission of hazardous substances and actively switching their production process to green chemistry.

The tremendous shift towards Green Chemistry

Green chemistry is an emerging focus among manufacturing industries that minimizes pollution at a molecular level. The idea is that companies can adopt new scientific processes to minimize the toll their products take on the environment. Companies are actively designing novel concepts to reduce the emission of hazardous substances. The changes can be as large as changing the entire chemistry or even as small as changing certain catalysts to reduce carbon footprints. Companies are actively switching their production process to green chemistry.

Green chemistry is fundamentally trying to minimize the impact on the environment from our chemistry. It also nicely combines with economic benefits because the fewer materials you need, the less waste you generate and the more cost-effective your production processes will be.

Biocatalysis allows chemists to use enzymes for specific chemical reactions instead of rare and toxic transition metals. Green chemistry has the unique benefit of being a win-win for both business and the environment as mentioned in the table below, which is why the principles of green chemistry extend far.

Why do we need to scale up action on green and sustainable chemistry?

The number of chemicals is ever-increasing, and hazardous chemicals and other pollutants continue to be released and disposed of in large quantities, affecting individuals and communities worldwide. Synthetic chemicals are now ubiquitous in humans and the environment. Chemical pollution has become a major cause of human disease and premature death. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated the burden of disease from selected chemicals at 1.6 million lives and 44.8 million disability-adjusted life years in 2016 which is likely to be an underestimate.

India’s specialty chemical companies are gaining favor with global multinational corporations because of the geopolitical shift after the  COVID-19  outbreak as the world looks to reduce its dependence on China.

The world is seeking to address sustainability issues in terms of clean energy, renewables, water waste, and overall waste reduction.

Indian government Initiatives to boost Green Chemistry

Indian government bodies such as the Department of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, and the Department of Pharmaceuticals, are beginning to organize various GC initiatives including partnering with SMEs to partially fund investments in green technology.

Generic drug pharma and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (“API”) manufacturers in India exhibit significant interest and some advances in using GC principles. At the same time, 65% of Indian companies rely on treatment and disposal of wastewater instead of source reduction and one in five (20%)  do not use any GC metrics.  The study found that generic pharma is more advanced in adopting GC principles than API manufacturers. Regulatory risk and time pressures to deliver drugs were reported as the two most significant barriers for greater adoption of GC in India, while cost savings and environmental regulations were cited as the top two drivers.

Green Chemistry in Pharmaceuticals

The pharmaceutical industry was among the first to embrace Green Chemistry (“GC”) for its significant potential to reduce costs and risks. Green pharmaceuticals as a segment are projected to grow to USD96.2 billion in 2026. The pharmaceutical industry is continually seeking ways to develop medicines with less harmful side effects and using processes that produce less toxic waste.

For example, Merck and Codexis developed a second-generation green synthesis of sitagliptin, the active ingredient in JanuviaTM, a treatment for type 2 diabetes. This collaboration leads to an enzymatic process that reduces waste, improves yield and safety, and eliminates the need for a metal catalyst. Early research suggests that the new biocatalysts will be useful in manufacturing other drugs as well.

Green Chemistry in Paints

Oil-based "alkyd" paints give off large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These volatile compounds evaporate from the paint as it dries and cures and many have one or more environmental impacts.

For example, Procter & Gamble and Cook Composites and Polymers created a mixture of soya oil and sugar that replaces fossil-fuel-derived paint resins and solvents, cutting hazardous volatiles by 50%. Chempol MPS paint formulations use these biobased Sefose oils to replace petroleum-based solvents and create a paint that is safer to use and produces less toxic waste.

Biodegradable Plastics

Several companies have been working to develop plastics that are made from renewable, biodegradable sources.

For example, NatureWorks of Minnetonka, Minnesota, makes food containers from a polymer called polylactic acid branded as Ingeo. The scientists at NatureWorks discovered a method where microorganisms convert cornstarch into a resin that is just as strong as the rigid petroleum-based plastic currently used for containers such as water bottles and yogurt pots. The company is working toward sourcing raw materials from agricultural waste.

As the name suggests, green chemistry reduces and to an extent eliminates the production and use of hazardous substances in mining and in the design, manufacture, and application of chemical products. It also encourages energy savings and a better environment and health.

Bio-pulping process for Circular Economy

The circular economy is an appropriate way for the development of the pulp and paper industry which has intensive resources consumption and environmental pollution. The concept of CE emphasizes the effective management of resources from cradle to grave. As shown in straw was used as input in the bio-pulping process where the enzyme was used, and paper products were produced after the thermal and mechanical processes. Then the pulp waste was utilized in the production of biogas, or it can be burned for energy production. The generated power and biogas can be applied to paper products again. The fly ash from power plants can be effectively utilized as fertilizer for corps.

The market potential for green and sustainable chemistry

The evolution of green chemistry in the chemical industry will be a critical trend fuelling the growth of the green chemicals market. The global green chemicals market is expected to grow by USD 45 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 10.5% between 2019 and 2025.

Opportunities for green and sustainable chemistry

Recent innovations in chemistry and advanced materials have created new opportunities throughout the value chain to advance sustainability. These include, for example: revolutionizing energy storage and battery development; creating sustainable building materials improving the recyclability and biodegradability of several products, or turning carbon dioxide (CO2) and wastes into chemical feedstocks and valuable products.

Greener and more sustainable innovation at the interface of chemistry, biology, and clean science are particularly promising.

Few of the Indian companies planning their way to green chemistry

Praj Industries - CBG projects

Syngene - Through Amgen

Clean Science and Technologies - Focused on Green Chemicals

and many more...

Source: Chemical Engineering Transaction

pWc Indian Chemical 2021

UN Environment Programme

Twitter Handle: @shuchi_nahar

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