Sustainability, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Chemistry, and Green Chemistry: Parallels and Interconnections

Abstract

The interconnectedness between sustainability, sustainable development, sustainable chemistry, and green chemistry is evident in the pursuit of innovative solutions that can balance economic, environmental, and social needs, thereby building a more sustainable future for present and future generations. Although these are topics that have been widely discussed in recent years, there are many controversies regarding the exact definition and scope of these terms. The term “Green Chemistry” was defined with the Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry, but in recent years, aspects of environmental and social costs need to be incorporated into the definition. Historically, green chemistry has tended to focus on the process, i.e., how a product is made, rather than the properties of the product. So, we generally talk about a process being green or not. This contribution aims to discuss the parallels, interconnections and differences that exist among the concepts within the realms of “Sustainability”, “Sustainable Development”, “Sustainable Chemistry”, and “Green Chemistry”. Additionally, it discusses how these topics play a crucial role in mitigating environmental impacts, conserving natural resources, generating employment, and promoting safer and more sustainable products and processes.