Green chemistry

What is green chemistry? Watch this 2-minute video.

Green chemistry is a science-based philosophy of designing chemicals and processes with the intention of making them less hazardous and more sustainable from creation to disposal.

Applying the principles of green chemistry can:

Prevent pollution at the source by making safer chemicals.
Reduce or eliminate the use of toxic chemicals—which protects workers, consumers, and the environment.
Reduce energy and material use while increasing the use of renewable materials.

Learn more about how teachers, students, researchers, and businesses can integrate green chemistry into their classrooms, careers, or products.

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What are the 12 principles of green chemistry?

The 12 principles of green chemistry outline goals for chemists and manufacturers to consider when creating new chemicals or processes. Each of the principles can be grouped into one of three themes:

Principle 1: Prevent waste

Preventing waste at the source is less costly and more impactful than cleaning up waste after it has been created. Watch this waste prevention video (by Green Chemistry UNIDO) to learn more.

Principle 2: Maximize atom economy

Maximize atom economy When designing synthetic methods, it’s essential to maximize incorporation of all materials used in the process in the final product to reduce waste.

Principle 6: Design for Energy Efficiency

Minimize the energy required to reduce environmental and economic impacts. For example, conduct processes at ambient temperature and pressure.

Principle 8: Avoid chemical derivatives

Identify and minimize or avoid unnecessary derivatization (use of blocking groups, protection/deprotection, temporary modification of physical/chemical processes) whenever possible.

Principle 9: Use catalysts, not stoichiometric reagents

Catalyst reagents should be used over stoichiometric reagents. These compounds can be used at low levels and can be reused rather than used once. Watch this catalysts video (by Green Chemistry UNIDO) to learn more.

Principle 3: Less hazardous chemical synthesis

Synthetic methods should be designed to use and generate substances that possess little or no hazards to human health and the environment.

Principle 4: Design safer chemicals and products

Chemical products should be designed to perform and have minimal toxicity to human health and the environment. When a green chemistry innovation has been identified as a potential alternative to an existing technology, we recommend conduct an alternatives assessment to help confirm that your selected chemical alternatives are indeed safer. This will prevent you from replacing one chemical with another that has similar, worse, or unknown toxic effects.

Principle 5: Use safer solvents and auxliaries

The use of solvents and other auxiliary substances (e.g., separation agents, etc.) should be made unnecessary wherever possible and, when used, should be safer. Watch this safer solvents video (by Green Chemistry UNIDO) to learn more.

Principle 10: Design for Degradation

Chemical products should be designed so that at the end of their function they break down into non-hazardous degradation products and do not persist in the environment.

Principle 11: Analyze in real time to prevent pollution

Analytical methodologies need to be further developed to allow for real-time, in-process monitoring and control prior to the formation of hazardous substances.

Principle 12: Minimize the potential for accidents

Substances and the form of a substance used in a chemical process should be chosen to minimize the potential for chemical accidents, including releases, explosions, and fires.

What are examples of green chemistry?

Green chemistry has been used in a wide variety of products and processes, from the medical field to computer technology to household paint and more. Here are a few examples:

Renewable packing peanuts made from plant starch.
Non-chemical thermal receipt paper that avoids toxic bisphenol inks.
Lithium-ion battery alternatives that use less chemicals.
Sustainable aviation fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

See more examples of green chemistry or past EPA Green Chemistry award winners.

Green chemistry and sustainable design

Click to download or request a free copy of the 6 Rs poster.

Sustainable design is when scientists and engineers use innovative and creative ways to reduce waste, conserve energy, and replace hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives. Green chemistry is part of sustainable design.

These resources can help you create more sustainable products and processes:

6 R's of Sustainable Design poster: Rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle
Design Principles Booklet, developed by the American Chemical Society
Biomimicry and Sustainable Design poster

Click to download or request a copy of Sustainable Design through Biomimicry poster, publication 20-04-009.

What's biomimicry?

Biomimicry is the study of nature to create new innovations that attempt to "mimic" naturally-occurring processes and therefore inform or create sustainable designs. For example:

Safer adhesives based on mussels and how they attach to wet rocks.
High-performance fiber based on spider silk that’s also biodegradable.
Non-toxic pigment based on beetles that’s environmentally responsible.

Learn more about biomimicry at Learn Biomimicry or the Biomimicry Institute.

Frequently asked questions

Businesses that want to invest in green chemistry or more sustainable practices can apply for grants and other sources of funding we’ve compiled here:

Federal funding

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program coordinates America's Seed Fund through participating federal agencies (such as the Environmental Protection Agency and National Science Foundation) to fund green technology.
Lab2Market provides customized guidance and tools for businesses to locate and identify funding.

State funding

Washington State Department of Commerce posts opportunities for funding across various business sectors.
Industrial Symbiosis Grant supports the reduction, reuse, or elimination of industrial waste in Washington. Grant opportunities are often posted mid-year.
Clean Energy Grants support clean energy technologies in Washington that reduce greenhouse gases and increase access to reliable and affordable energy.

Non-profits

American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Roundtable research grants are awarded annually for green chemistry innovations in the pharmaceutical industry.

We’ve provided a list of competitions that recognize innovations in green chemistry as well as marketplaces and directories where businesses can promote their green chemistry technology for others to find.

Awards

Green chemistry marketplaces and directories

There are many organizations as well as annual events that help connect businesses and scientists to others who are already working on sustainability practices and green chemistry.

Organizations

Cleantech Alliance facilitates the generation and growth of cleantech companies and jobs through education, research, and partnerships.
American Chemical Society provides resources and ways to connect with others.
Change Chemistry members collaborate on projects that incorporate green chemistry practices. They also have a Startup Network that helps accelerate the development and market presence of green and sustainable chemistry.

Events

Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference hosted by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute.

University of Washington Green Chemistry & Chemical Stewardship Online Certificate Program: An 8-month online program teaches the principles of green chemistry and how to incorporate them into product design, materials, and supply chain decisions.
UNIDO Green Chemistry Toolkit.
Green Chemistry and Sustainable Energy Summer School: A week-long residential program for graduate and postdoctoral scholars. Travel, housing, and meals included for participants!
Online Summer Green Chemistry Courses for High School teachers: Introductory and advanced online summer courses that provide educators with tools to integrate green chemistry principles and practices into their classroom. These courses are structured in an interactive go-at-your-own-pace format.

If you need a resource, input on your ideas, or guidance for where to go next, contact our team at safer.chem@ecy.wa.gov.

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Kajin M̧ajel‌̧

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Diseño Sostenible con Bioimitación (Spanish): Al diseñar sustancias químicas y productos más seguros, puedes buscar inspiración en la naturaleza. Esto se llama la bioimitación. Ve cómo los científicos han observado a los mejillones, los gecos, y los tiburones para crear diseños innovadores y otras soluciones.
Las 6 Rs del Diseño Sostenible (cartel) (Spanish): Probablemente has oído hablar de “Reducir, Reutilizar, Reciclar,” pero al diseñar un producto, hemos encontrado que las “6 Rs” son útiles.
STEM-ifique su lista de suministros para la clase: En esta lección los estudiantes desarrollarán un argumento basado en evidencia luego de investigar la seguridad, desempeño, y costo de una variedad de productos de desinfección y limpieza diseñados para remover gérmenes.

Плакат «Создание экологически безопасных изделий и биомимикрия» (Russian): При разработке более безопасных химических продуктов и других изделий можно искать вдохновение в природе. Это называют «биомимикрией». Узнайте, как благодаря исследованию мидий, гекконов и акул ученые пришли к инновационным решениям.
Шесть принципов (6 R) создания экологически безопасных изделий (плакат) (Russian): Вы, наверное, слышали о правиле «Сокращай, используй повторно, перерабатывай», но, по нашему мнению, при разработке изделия более полезными являются приведенные ниже 6 принципов (6 R). Отвечая на эти вопросы, вы сможете изготавливать более экологичные изделия. Всегда помните об основных целях создания экологически безопасных изделий.

Плакат «Створення екологічно безпечних виробів і біомімікрія» (Ukrainian): Щоб розробити безпечніші хімічні продукти й інші товари, можна шукати натхнення в природі. Це називають «біомімікрією». Дізнайтеся, як завдяки дослідженню мідій, геконів та акул учені знайшли інноваційні рішення.
Шість принципів (6 R) створення екологічно безпечних виробів (плакат) (Ukrainian): Ви, напевно, чули про правило «Скорочуй, використовуй повторно, переробляй», але, на нашу думку, під час розробки виробу кориснішими є наведені нижче 6 принципів (6 R).

Wāween Kejbarok ilo Kōmman Mweiuk kin Peba in Melele kin Wāween an Armij Bōk Lomnak jen Menninmour im Men ko Kobban Lal in ñan Bukōt Woñmaanlok (Marshallese): Ilo ien an komman baijin im mweiuk ko rejab kauwotata, kwomaron lale menninmour im men ko kobban lal in ñan aer lewaj lomnak. Etan mennin ej waween an armij bok lomnak jen menninmour im men ko kobban lal in ñan bukot woñmaanlok. Lale waween an scientist ro lale mussel ko, korap ko, im bako ko ñan kommane kein komadmod ko rekaal im mennin woñmaanlok ko jet.
6 Rs ilo Wāween Kejbarok ilo Kōmman Mweiuk (Marshallese): Emoj am bolen roñ “Kadiklok, Bar Kojerbal, Recycle,” botab ilo ien kommane juon mweiuk, emoj amim loe ke ewor jibañ kin “6 Rs”. Kojerbal kajitok kein ijin lal ñan kommane mweiuk ko elablok waween kejbarok. Lomnak kin melele ko relablok ilo waween kejbarok ilo komman mweiuk.

طراحی پایدار با پوستر بیومیمیکری (Farsi): در طراحی مواد شیمیایی و محصولات ایمن‌تر، می‌توانید برای الهام گرفتن به طبیعت نگاه کنید. به این امر بیومیمیکری می‌گویند. ببینید چگونه دانشمندان به صدف‌ها، مارمولک‌های گکو و کوسه‌ها برای ایجاد طرح‌های نوآورانه و راه‌حل‌های دیگر نگاه کرده‌اند.
6 آر(R) در طراحی پایدار (پوستر) (Farsi): احتمالاً کلمات «کاهش ، استفاده مجدد، بازیافت» را شنیده‌اید، اما در طراحی یک محصول، «6 R» وجود دارند که آنها را مفید می‌دانیم. از سؤالات زیر برای توسعه محصولات پایدارتر استفاده کنید. موضوعات اصلی طراحی پایدار را در ذهن داشته باشید:

We offer free language services about our programs and services for people whose primary language is not English. We can provide written information in your preferred language and interpreters in person or over the telephone.

Contact our Language Access team: language@ecy.wa.gov

Contact information

Safer Chemicals Team
safer.chem@ecy.wa.gov