Green chemistry and engineering innovation drive economic progress while minimizing harm to human health and the environment.
A look at the history of the chemistry industry reveals that some of its most significant advancements—particularly those during and after the First and Second World Wars—were made possible through joint efforts among industry, government, and academia. While we are no longer spurred by imminent national security threats, we now face the equally urgent challenges of a rapidly changing climate, which affects societies and communities around the world.
The need to transform the chemistry industry in response to this crisis was recognized over 3 decades ago, which led to the founding of the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute (GCI) in 1997. GCI’s mission: to catalyze the implementation of innovative approaches to chemistry and engineering that enable sustainable development across the globe.
In 2005, the GCI established the ACS GCI Pharmaceutical Roundtable (GCIPR) to foster collaboration across and within sectors. This industry collaboration began with 3 corporate members and has grown to more than 50 today. Over the past 20 years, the GCIPR has focused on identifying and addressing key bottlenecks in the pursuit of more sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing—and it has made remarkable progress.
GCIPR scientists have developed tools and metrics to measure the impact of chemistry endeavors and compare and predict greener processes. These tools are now used broadly—not just in the pharmaceutical industry but across research sectors, including academia. The roundtable has also invested in academic research through a long-running grant program that fosters collaboration between industrial scientists and university researchers. This program has supported the training and recruitment of emerging talent while advancing solutions to real-world sustainability challenges.
As the GCIPR celebrates its 20th anniversary, its $4.3 million in grant funding stands as a testament to the power of cross-sector collaboration to drive both fundamental research and practical innovation.
"The need to transform the chemistry industry in response to this crisis was recognized over 3 decades ago, which led to the founding of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute (GCI) in 1997."
As the current chair of the ACS GCI Advisory Board and a long-time member of the ACS GCIPR, I advocate expanding this proven model of collaboration to other sectors. One example of this expansion is the newly launched ACS GCI Natural Polymers Consortium, which brings stakeholders together to accelerate the development of natural polymers as sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics. Another example is the ACS Campaign for a Sustainable Future, which includes a new grant program designed to spark cross-sector partnerships and support early career researchers in green and sustainable chemistry.
One of the persistent barriers to collaboration is the difficulty in finding the right partners. To address this challenge, the GCI partnered with the Yale Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering and Beyond Benign to create Green Chemistry for Sustainability, a digital platform for fostering community and collaboration.
While much work lies ahead, the ACS GCI and GCIPR remain deeply committed to advancing green chemistry and sustainability through interdisciplinary and cross-sector partnerships.
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Views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of C&EN or ACS.