Green chemistry is a science, based on the principles of nature, which takes nature as its inspiration. It seeks to discover and apply the laws that regulate chemical processes in living organisms. It was born in 1874 when German chemist Justus von Liebig identified that there were fundamental similarities between the chemical reactions taking place in living things and those taking place in chemical factories. He called this idea the “law of similitude”.
It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that chemist Paul J. Flory began to develop the basic theory of green chemistry. This theory states that all organic reactions should be considered “reactions” rather than chemical transformations, because of the role that water plays in nature. In fact, the Earth is 70% water. Water is necessary for life, and without water, there would be no life.
1. Prevent Waste
Waste is the enemy of the environment. This principle of green chemistry is based on the idea that chemical compounds can be designed so that they don’t produce any waste when they break down. So, the by-products of the compound are benign and won’t cause harm to people or the environment. For instance, one common organic compound that doesn’t decompose is a chemical called styrene. Styrene is a component of plastic, which means it’s commonly found in everything from plastic bags to water bottles.
2. Maximize Atom economy
The atom economy is the idea that chemical reactions are most efficient if there is a one-to-one relationship between atoms involved in a reaction. When atoms are rearranged, energy is released in the form of heat. That means that the atom economy is based on the efficiency of energy transfer. If you’re selling something, whether it’s a widget or a brand, your product needs to be efficient in the amount of energy needed to make it.
3. Increase energy efficiency
The third principle of green chemistry is that “energy efficiency” is the key word for creating greener products. It’s easy to understand why: If a product is green in its ingredients, it’s also energy efficient. But to really make the most of green chemistry, it’s important to apply it across the entire process of manufacturing or producing a product. This means that the same rules that apply to making an eco-friendly product also apply to using the material, storing it, transporting it, recycling it, and disposing of it after use.
4. Utilize renewable feedstock
By using bio feedstock, the manufacturer of the product eliminates the need for petroleum-based solvents or fuels and avoids the generation of hazardous chemicals. Bio feedstock-based production reduces pollution by eliminating hazardous chemical manufacturing processes, which often emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air.
