Chemistry International
Vol. 21, No. 1
January 1999
Reports
from IUPAC Sponsored Symposia
The OECD
Workshop on Sustainable Chemistry, 15-17 October 1998, Venice, Italy
Introduction
The Workshop on Sustainable Chemistry (hosted by the Interuniversity
Consortium Chemistry for the Environment) was held at Fondazione
Cini (Venice, Italy) from 15-17 October 1998. This international event
was co-sponsored by the governments of Germany, Italy, Japan, and the
United States in cooperation with the International Union of Pure and
Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee
to the OECD (BIAC). Also participating in the organization of the workshop
were the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development)
and the Interuniversity Consortium Chemistry for the Environment.
Joe Carra (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and Pietro
Tundo (Interuniversity Consortium Chemistry for the Environment)
co-chaired the workshop. Seventy-five experts attended, representing
16 member countries, the European Commission, industry, and nongovernmental
organizations.
Within the broad framework of sustainable development,
we should strive to maximize resource efficiency through activities
such as energy and nonrenewable resource conservation, risk minimization,
pollution prevention, minimization of waste at all stages of a product's
life cycle, and the development of products that are durable and can
be reused and recycled. Sustainable chemistry strives to accomplish
these ends through the design, manufacture, and use of efficient and
effective, more environmentally benign chemical products and processes.
Prior to the workshop a survey was conducted to collect
basic information on sustainable chemistry activities recently completed
or ongoing in member countries. This information included activities
initiated by governments, academia, and industry, and which are managed
solely by one of these parties or in a collaborative fashion (e.g.,
government/industry partnership). The results of this survey were discussed
at the workshop.
The workshop focused on the policy/programmatic aspects
of sustainable chemistry initiatives, as compared to the technical aspects
of any particular approach, with a mandate to
- identify the types of sustainable chemistry activities underway;
- identify effective techniques and approaches in the field of sustainable
chemistry (including educational approaches), highlighting problems
encountered and considering solutions; and
- identify activities that can further the development and use
of sustainable chemistry programs.
Breakout
Sessions
Five breakout sessions were held in parallel, at which the topics
listed above were discussed. The results from these discussions were
reported in the plenary session. The plenary session then developed
a consolidated paper summarising the discussions and recommending further
work.
Breakout Session 1
- Object: Recognize sustainable chemistry accomplishments by the
chemical industry and scientists in universities and research institutions
- Co-chairs: Paul Anastas (U.S. Environment Protection Agency) and
Ferruccio Trifirò (University of Bologna, Italy)
- Goal: Provide effective awards and recognition for the purpose
of promoting sustainable chemistry
Breakout Session 2
- Object: Dissemination of technical information and event information
related to sustainable chemistry
- Co-chairs: Joe Breen (U.S. Green Chemistry Institute) and Alvise
Perosa (Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy); rapporteur: Dennis
Hjeresen (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
- Goals: Promote the development and functioning of an international
sustainable chemistry community
Breakout Session 3
- Object: Support and promote the research, discovery, and development
of innovative sustainable chemistry technologies
- Co-chairs: Masao Kitajima (Japan Chemical Innovation Institute)
and Junshi Miyamoto
(IUPAC); rapporteur: Uwe Wolcke (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitschutz
und Arbeitsmedizin)
- Goals: Stimulation of interest in assessments, industry, academia,
and the public in sustainable chemistry as a basis for national
and international research programs; identification of mechanisms
to support/promote research; description of ways to implement research
programs
Breakout Session 4
- Object: Develop guidance on how to implement sustainable chemistry
programs for use by OECD member countries and others
- Co-chairs: Peter Hinchcliffe (UK Department of Environment, Transport,
and Regions) and Herwig Hulpke (BAYER - AG); rapporteur: John Keating
(Canada Natural Resources)
- Goal: Individuate the mechanisms to develop guidance on how to
implement sustainable chemistry programs for use by OECD member
countries and others
Breakout Session 5
- Object: Promote incorporation of sustainable chemistry principles
into the various levels of chemical education
- Co-chairs: Tracy Williamson (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
and Giuseppe Blasco (Inter-university Consortium Chemistry for the
Environment, Italy); rapporteur: John Warner (University of Massachusetts).
- Goals: Educate all people involved in products and processes on
sustainable chemistry; includes those who currently are involved
as well as those who will be involved in the future; includes educators.
It was evident from the workshop that there is considerable
interest and enthusiasm within academia, industry, government, and NGOs
for both the basic concepts and practical developments in the field
of sustainable chemistry. Italy, Japan, Germany, the United States,
and Austria presented considerable information on developments in sustainable
chemistry.
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