Adding "Green" to the Formula

Without realizing it, artificial chemicals have become the backbone of modern society. From plastic to cosmetics to pharmaceutical industries, chemical-producing sectors are making significant impacts on the current world, culturally and physically. However, with the boom of these industries, the daily manufacturing processes and the waste produced from them have also caused major pollution and resource depletion issues.

Around the 1990s, scientists and industries worldwide started implementing efforts to advance research and develop strategies to address these problems, leading to the first wave of green chemistry. Green chemistry, also known as sustainable chemistry, is an approach focusing on designing and implementing chemical processes that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances.

Two pioneer chemists in the field, Paul Anastas and John Warner co-authored the book “Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice” and published the 12 principles of green chemistry. This book is considered the foundation of green chemistry and is still highly relevant to current-day chemical practices.