Photo credit: UNIDO
Despite high-profile pledges by countries around the world to phase out mercury and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and a growing recognition of the dangers of microplastics, millions of workers are exposed to toxic substances every day.
The Global Greenchem Innovation and Network Program has set out to change that: by transforming the very shape of the chemicals we use.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the program aims to cultivate the spread of green chemistry: a revolutionary approach to chemical design and chemical processes that works at the molecular level to bring nature-based solutions and processes to prevent the production of hazardous substances, from manufacture through to disposal.
The Global Greenchem program is working on multiple fronts to spur its adoption of this new paradigm: by offering education and training in its principles and practices, by stimulating innovation in six participant nations on four continents, and by building globe-spanning networks that unite experts and thought leaders in academia, industry, and government.
Green chemistry, a concept first introduced in 1998, holds the potential to lower the output of toxins in every industry – from food and plastics to cosmetics and cleaning products – and is essential to the world’s efforts to eliminate mercury, POPs, microplastics, and other hazardous materials.
But it yields advantages for businesses too. By removing toxins, it allows companies to reuse and recycle materials, increasing resource efficiency and lowering disposal costs. Companies that have embraced greener methods are also more attractive to staff, customers, and shareholders.
Despite these benefits, however, the shift to sustainable chemistry still faces obstacles in many regions, particularly in developing economies where awareness of its advantages may be limited.
Chief among these barriers is the perception, especially among smaller businesses, that green chemistry means expensive chemistry. With inflation a concern in recent years and operating budgets in early-stage ventures often restricted, this can make entrepreneurs reluctant to risk innovating.
This is in part because innovation inevitably involves upfront investment – in such areas as research and development, process redesign, and new equipment. Aspiring entrepreneurs can also face an uphill battle securing regulatory approvals for novel processes and materials. Through all this, they must find ways to stay afloat as they grow their operations.
To help green chemistry pioneers overcome these hurdles and build thriving businesses, the Global Greenchem initiative has created multi-year accelerator programs in Ukraine, Serbia, Indonesia, Jordan, Peru, and Uganda.
These offer entrepreneurs with promising business ideas links to possible sources of funding, technical support and training in green chemistry and green business, mentorship and advice on navigating the approvals process, and access to a global network of experts that could yield potential new market and partnership opportunities.
The creation of this network is a central goal of the Global Greenchem program. While there are dozens of individual sustainable chemistry networks in existence today, they vary in size and resourcing. Until now, there has also been little attempt at global coordination.
This is why the program is constructing a network of networks: one that unites government, academia, and private-sector innovators behind the goal of reducing the release of POPs, mercury, and microplastics through commercially available technology. By linking these established networks and connecting them to entrepreneurs and scientists in developing economies, the program aims to create true global momentum behind the green chemistry movement.
