Impacts of Green Chemistry

   The persistent advancement in technology of this level could not be accomplished without the help of chemistry. We are able to enhance the quality and properties of our products, not leaving out the ability to manufacture technological substances in a large scale with a low cost.

  However, these essentials we currently enjoy must come with a price- bi-products of the chemical reactions in the form of wastes are disposed to the nature, in consequences to harmful, inorganic, non-biodegradable substances circulating in the ecosystem and the food chain, which includes contaminating the environment and as well as our bodies, affecting our health with the intake of these toxics and carcinogens. [1]  

  What is more of a concern is that according to statistics, the rate of growth in chemical productions is outpacing the rate of growth in human population [2], meaning that the ratio of human to the consumption of chemicals will increase, creating more harm to the body and in fatal cases, death. This is where green chemistry comes in to save the day.

  Green chemistry refers to the evaluation of the manufacturing processes and products in favors of environmental terms and safety aiming to decrease the byproducts or waste generated by creating alternatives or by termination of production. [3] Highlighting the term “benign by design” [4], a business must fully understand the theory of it by law to internationalize the views and perception towards “green” technology to avoid misconceptions.

  The twelve principles of benign by design acts like a guidebook for proper usage and handling of chemicals. These following principles are to prevent pollution, to reduce byproducts in reactions, to use non-toxic chemical substances when practical, to have alternative safer methods, to create safer chemicals, to reduce the use of auxiliary substances, to increase energy efficiency, to amplify the use of renewable sources, to reduce derivatives, to have priories catalytic reagents, to generate bio-degradable products, to have constant reports of pollution prevention, and alas, to develop safety chemicals for accident prevention. [5]  

  Countries and states like California had already started making the application of green chemistry mandatory by law in manufacturing processes. As alternatives for organic solvents, research and development of green chemistry had initiated ionic solvents as a medium or reactant in the chemical process. These ionic compounds have better properties than the most commonly used organic solvent, water, generating less byproducts and also, being a reusable solvent, causing less waste to be generated. [6]

  

It has been proved effective judging by the statistics of total energy used in effective states such as California compared to the non-effective states. For these numbers of years, California has been able to maintain its electricity usage by reducing the numbers of processes in the making of chemical products such as pharmaceutical drugs like ibuprofen [7] while energy consumption has been rising in the non-effective states.  Moreover, the introduction of reusable chemical solvents has effectively reduced the total amount of chemical waste generated where fewer raw materials are used too, saving resources.  With laws that have such impact on the state itself, the environmental awareness has been amplified by times as it requires the manufacturers to highlight and promote the use of green technology. [8]

   Economically, the requirement of the usage of green chemistry has developed a new firm responsible for research in the following technology, decreasing the unemployment rate of one’s country, simultaneously increasing the GDP by the profit generated by it. With less waste generated, business has saved large amount of cost by the reduced waste treatment process.  The market of green technology is also capitalized, increasing business opportunities.

  The green chemistry has also increased the safety of the workers as well as the consumers where hazardous chemicals found in the manufacturing process are replaced with green chemistry approved safer non-toxic chemicals. The consumers are also protected by green chemistry with the prevention of harmful chemicals being released into the ecosystems as well as the food chains.

Nonetheless, the green chemistry concept has yet to be accepted by most countries due to potential risks and disadvantages to the vital factors of the country. The acquaintance of green chemistry in business obligatory by law will cause a certain amount of disruption in the country’s economy.

  With the usual manufacturing process and the business flow affected due to the lower efficiency and increased cost of safety chemicals, not to mention the expenses of redesigning the manufacturing process, businesses will be scared away, changing their manufacturing locations to countries with less requirements and lower costs, causing loss of jobs. [9]

  Not only that, the consumers will be also affected due to the manufacturers with their cost increased. The standardized price of products will be increased, burdening the consumers as their expenditures increases.[10] Lastly, the use of newly designed technology often gives no guarantee in terms of safety, efficiency and most of all, unidentified or miscalculated factors. [11] Calculating the factors accordingly to environmental benefits over the country’s economy, many countries will come out with a final decision of not initiating green chemistry.

  The solution to overcome the unwelcomed concept of green chemistry is for the country to take over the responsibility by organizing a firm to provide research and development on the process of manufacturing for the businesses instead of the business using their own income to produce research. This will increase the popularity of green chemistry as various businesses will have their investments in product research and development more on green chemistry.  With the country having the fear of losing foreign business, the green chemistry concept could be inserted under the ethical laws of business instead of court-based laws. If all were to be rejected, the country can substitute green chemistry concept with the 3R’s, recycle, reused and reduce.

   “The greatest good for the greatest number” [12], something must be sacrificed for a greater purpose. In terms of having a cleaner, greener and safer environment, we should put in more investment in the research and development of green chemistry, not leaving out the fact of carrying it out. We as humans hold the responsibility of protecting our only home as well as our future generations should give in more efforts to make the world a better place.

Bibliography

1.       "California's Bad Chemistry." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/14/california-green-chemistry-initiative-science-opinions-columnists-henry-i-miller.html>.

2.       "Entrepreneurs, Inventors Hurt by 'green Chemistry' Law." Capitol Weekly: Entrepreneurs, Inventors Hurt. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=10wpygb14q3x99u>.

3.       "Green Chemistry - Green Chemists - MVS Solutions." Green Chemistry - Green Chemists - MVS Solutions. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.mvssolutions.com/green.html>.

4.       "Green Chemistry: California's Oppoturnity." Report on California's Green Chemistry. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://coeh.berkeley.edu/docs/GreenChemBrief_final.pdf>.

5.       "Green Chemistry." N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Green_chemistry.aspx>.

6.       "Green Chemistry: Real World Solutions for Real Environmental Problems." â€” Environmental Health News. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/editorial/green-chemistry-real-world-solutions-for-real-environmental-problems>.

7.       Lee, Lexa W. "What Is Benign by Design?" EHow. Demand Media, 26 Aug. 2010. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.ehow.com/facts_6914139_benign-design_.html>.

8.       Singer, Robert D., Ph.D. "Ionic Liquids & Green Chemistry." Ionic Liquids & Green Chemistry. Saint Mary's University, n.d. Web. <http://c2p2online.com/documents/Robert_Singer.pdf>.

9.       "What Is Green Chemistry." Fisher Science Education, n.d. Web. <http://fscimage.fishersci.com/cmsassets/downloads/segment/ScienceEducation/pdf/green_12PrinciplesGreenChem.pdf>.

10    "Why We Need Green Chemistry." Cleanproduction.org, n.d. Web. <http://www.cleanproduction.org/library/cpa%20green%20need%20fact.pdf>.

11.    "Your Eyes on California Government." CalWatchDog. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.calwatchdog.com/2012/10/08/green-chemistry-regulations-poison-california-jobs/>.