The Green Advantage: Why Chemical Manufacturers Must Embrace Green Chemistry Now

The chemical industry is responsible for 7% of all direct greenhouse gas emissions on a global level, according to an estimate. In fact, greenhouse gas emissions from the chemical and petrochemical industry are estimated to reach nearly 2.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents by 2030.

And while the concept of green chemistry was proposed by researchers in the U.S. way back in the early 1990s, it has largely remained on the sidelines.

Thanks to the increasing concerns of climate change and sustainability in recent times, the concept of green chemistry has again come into the spotlight.

Macroeconomic conditions, concerns of slowdown in the global economy and the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war have also accelerated the industry’s efforts in this direction.

As a result, the chemical industry is evolving quickly with the development of new processes and technologies.

The chemical industry provides basic chemicals, fuels and materials for several other industries. Most of these products are manufactured with the help of one or more chemical processes. These processes cause air, water and soil pollution and lead to wastage of resources.

How Green Chemistry Can Help

Green chemistry, commonly known as sustainable chemistry, focuses on developing products and processes that reduce the production of dangerous materials. The adoption of green chemistry can help chemical manufacturers  reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create safer products and conserve resources.

Here are some of the key benefits of green chemistry:

First, green chemistry can lead to the development of new processes that are more efficient and produce less waste. These processes can make use of renewable feedstocks, increase atom economy and reduce the usage of solvents.

Second, green chemistry can favor the designing of safer products and chemicals. This can include making products that degrade into non-toxic substances, reducing the usage of toxic chemicals and minimizing the risks of chemical releases and accidents.

Key Players Switching to Green Chemistry

Let’s look at some market players that are catching up with the trend and going green.

• Tata Chemicals is focusing on the principles of green chemistry for all its upcoming products. Most of its capacity comes from natural sources. The very first carbon capture plant in the U.K. is an amine-based carbon capture technology that consumes up to 40,000 tons  of carbon dioxide per annum and converts it into sodium bicarbonate.
   
• Arkema SA, a leading manufacturer of chemicals, is diverting its research efforts to the use of renewable raw materials for the purpose of producing bioplastics and green chemicals. The innovative solutions provided by the company are aligned with the UN’s sustainable development goal (SGD 12). Arkema uses a wide variety of bio-attributed acrylic monomers, which help it offer bio-attributed specialty acrylic resins and additives for different applications.
   
• Evonik and Siemens Energy have commissioned a pilot plant that uses carbon dioxide and water to produce chemicals. With CO and hydrogen electrolysis, these companies together, aim at building a bridge for green electricity for sustainable material solutions.

Conclusion

Green chemistry can transform chemical manufacturing by making it sustainable, efficient and safe. It has now become a critical component of running a successful business and can help chemical manufacturers stay competitive without compromising on profitability. Additionally, green chemistry can provide cleaner air, water, safe food and products with less exposure to toxic chemicals.

Sources and references:

• https://www.deskera.com/blog/the-latest-trends-in-chemical-manufacturing-technology/
• https://academic.oup.com/nsr/article/5/6/953/4972773
• https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230221-the-toxic-legacy-of-the-ukraine-war
• https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/benefits-green-chemistry#:~:text=Plants%20and%20animals%20suffer%20less,Less%20chemical%20disruption%20of%20ecosystems
• https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions
• https://www.nextmsc.com/blogs/top-5-trends-in-chemical-industry https://www.arkema.com/global/en/innovation/natural-resources-management/bio-based-products/
• https://corporate.evonik.com/en/using-carbon-dioxide-and-hydrogen-as-raw-materials-for-sustainable-chemicals-143626.html
• https://www.businesstoday.in/industry/story/new-products-are-focused-on-green-chemistry-principles-says-richard-lobo-of-tata-chemicals-384258-2023-06-05