Green Chemistry

By Cynthia Challener

For the entire chemical industry, operating sustainable businesses that provide value-added products and services with minimal or no environmental impact continues to be a top priority. The adoption of a “green” ap­proach lo lhe manufacture and marketing of chemical products, including paints and coatings, clearly assists companies in attaining this goal. Green chemistry also offers chemical producers a mechanism for connecting chem­icals and chemistry to the consumer in a positive way. Of course, green chemistry initiatives must be commercially viable and provide products or services that have enhanced performance qualities and/or cost savings in ad­dition to reducing the environmental footprint of the business.

“Green chemistry is a more eco-friendly green alternative to conventional chemistry practices,” says Dr. Louis M. Scarmoutzos, founder and managing partner, MVS Solutions Incorporated. “The green chemistry movement is part of a larger movement ultimately leading to a green economy-namely sustainable development, sustainable business, and sustainable living prac­tices,” he explains. Paul Anastas, director of the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute, adds that “Green chemistry is pollution preven­tion at the molecular level; it is chemistry that is benign by design.”