Green Chemistry and Sustainability

Green Chemistry is a philosophy that promotes sustainability. Sustainability is about modifying practices so that they can be maintained long-term. This includes considering impacts on

> the economy: projects should be financially sustainable
> social equity: people involved in production should be treated fairly
> the environment: minimising production of pollutants, increasing yield through optimisation

How does Green Chemistry promote sustainability? By definition,
Green Chemistry encourages the design of products and processes that minimise the use and generation of hazardous substances.

In other words, Green Chemistry encourages us to optimise processes so they generate less waste (including waste harmful to the environment) and more yield.

Companies can use the 12 principles of Green Chemistry as a guide to work towards becoming more sustainable.

Sustainable Companies
Sustainable companies take measures to minimise the impact of their businesses on the environment. One example of a sustainable company is Justin's, a company that sells nut butter.



Justin's modified the design of their jars to use 47% less plastic. This is beneficial to the environment because plastic is non-biodegradable (cannot be broken down by microbes) and comes from petroleum, which is a finite resource.

In addition, Justin's sources their raw materials (like nuts) from as nearby as possible. This saves transport costs and fuel, which reduces carbon emissions. Click on this link to find out more about the nut's journey from soil to jar :)

http://www.justins.com/theDirtOnNuts_CHB.php

Justin's is also working towards a 100% renewable squeeze-pack packaging that can be composted in people's homes. Compostable materials are better than plastic because they can biodegrade.

Justin's sustainable philosophy is inspiring. Do find out more about such companies, and support their sustainable practices! :)