Stoney Barton's profile

The American Chemical Society on Green Chemistry

A non-profit scientific organization, the American Chemical Society (ACS), was established in 1876. It is one of the world’s largest scientific organizations, encompassing 150 countries and over 155,000 members. Besides being a leading publisher of relevant and authoritative scientific information through more than 65 peer-reviewed journals, the ACS empowers members to advance the chemistry industry, providing network, career, and learning opportunities.

The society aims to promote and advance the broader chemistry sector and those who engage in it for the benefit of Earth and the people who live here. For this reason, the ACS embraces sustainable and green chemistry and engineering, considering it an innovative pathway for a safer world.

According to the society, the concept of green chemistry targets the development of earth-friendly products and chemical processes that will prevent pollution and the creation of toxins and waste. It also encompasses the creation of alternatives to hazardous substances, the employment of methods that use less energy, and the design of chemical processes that reduce both waste and demand on diminishing resources.

The ACS uses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to develop its strategic response to all challenges in sustainability. According to the ACS, chemistry is essential to help communities achieve the SDGs. The society can help by creating a membership alliance and providing a forum to help solve the chemistry-related challenges that these goals articulate. With this in mind, leaders from ACS and the German Chemical Society cosigned a five-year partnership agreement in October 2020. The agreement outlines future collaboration in advancing the United Nations SDGs.

The ACS website features a green chemistry page, where it shares other ways it is helping shape the future of sustainable chemistry. For instance, The ACS has created the Green Chemistry Institute (GCI) to encourage and enable green and sustainable chemistry and engineering across Society and the global chemical sector. The GCI was incorporated in 1997, and in 2001 it joined the ACS to intersect chemistry and the environment to address global issues.

The ACS GCI supports research, assists companies with industrial implementation, works to address green chemistry in every level of chemical education, and seeks partnerships with international green chemistry advocates. The Institute connects companies across the globe to advance the science roundtables focused on the science and practical applications of sustainable and green chemistry and engineering.

There are five roundtables available for companies to join: the pharmaceutical roundtable, for catalyzing the beneficial implementation of green practices in the industry; the formulators’ roundtable, for encouraging the making of innovative products that are safe for the environment and consumers; the chemical manufacturers roundtable, for applying green practices in the chemical manufacturing industry; the oilfield chemistry roundtable, focused on the oilfield industry; and the biochemical technology leadership roundtable, for promoting he renewable and bio-based chemicals economy.

The ACS GCI also hosts conferences, such as the Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference. Known as the GC&E, it is the world’s longest-running conference dedicated to green chemistry and engineering. The 26th GC&E annual meeting will be held in June 2022 at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, Virginia. The 2022 theme will be Thinking in Systems: Designing for Sustainable Use, and several poster sessions, workshops, technical sessions, and receptions will focus on it. A global community of scientists can also join the 26th meeting via the virtual component, which will allow further connection to the local event.
The American Chemical Society on Green Chemistry
Published:

The American Chemical Society on Green Chemistry

Published:

Creative Fields