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Industrial Green Chemistry
Industrial green chemistry
Industrial green chemistry
Prior to Green Chemistry the chemical sector was subject to environmental legislation and less polluting, safer policies were evolving. The Triple Bottom Line was one way of adjusting business to embrace environmentalism and satisfy consumer concerns regarding ethical business practice. Specific to the pharmaceutical industry is the SELECT criteria, which has built upon the Triple Bottom Line and the Principles of Green Chemistry.
Triple bottom line
Triple bottom line
The triple bottom line predates Green Chemistry as a framework for sustainable business practice (Elkington, 1997). It can be applied satisfactorily to the pharmaceutical industry, which has strong links to each pillar of the triple bottom line: social, environment, and economics.
Social (People): The social aspect of the triple bottom line centres on an organisation´s influence on its employees, the community, and the general well-being of affected communities. It includes actions related to education, community involvement, ethical business conduct, and the execution of research-driven social initiatives. These endeavours aim to connect social responsibility with how consumers view organisations in today's market landscape (Chatterjee, 2023; Correia, 2019; Khan et al., 2023)
Environmental (Planet): This dimension entails the reduction of environmental and energy impacts as well as the minimisation of waste. It holds paramount importance because, without the support of natural resources and systems, the other two dimensions (people and profit) would not be viable. This dimension also encompasses evolving consumer behaviour and the shift towards renewables and environmentally-friendly products (Choi and Ng, 2011; Correia, 2019)
Economic (Profit): This focuses on the economic performance of business operations and its impact on society. Strategic decisions and stakeholder cooperation is based on economics but this can be used as a platform to act in the other pillars too. Well managed and profitable businesses create employment which contributes to the well-being of communities. (Correia, 2019; Dey et al. 2020; Jum'a et al., 2022).
SELECT criteria
SELECT criteria
The SELECT criteria (Safety, Environmental, Legal, Economics, Control, and Throughput) refer to a set of principles and guidelines used to evaluate and select processes, materials, and technologies that align with green, environmental and sustainable practices (Butters et al., 2006). Unlike the triple bottom line, the SELECT criteria were designed specifically with the pharmaceutical industry in mind. The six stages of the SELECT criteria are:
Safety: Safety considerations are crucial to prevent accidents and ensure a safe working environment. This criterion addresses the safety of the chosen process or technology and involves assessing potential hazards, risks, and the impact on worker health and safety.
Environmental: Environmental assessment involves evaluating the environmental impact of the process or technology, including resource consumption, waste generation, emissions, and the overall ecological footprint. The goal is to minimise negative environmental effects and promote sustainability.
Legal: Legal considerations involve compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards. This stage ensures that the selected process or technology adheres to legal requirements related to environmental protection, safety and other applicable regulations.
Economics: Economic analysis assesses the cost-effectiveness and economic viability of the chosen solution. Economic considerations include cost analysis, return on investment, market competitiveness, and the financial feasibility of the process.
Control: Effective process control is essential for sustainable and reliable operations. This stage addresses the technical aspects of process control and optimisation. It involves evaluating the ability to control and manage the process efficiently, maintain consistent product quality, and ensure optimal performance.
Throughput: Maximising throughput while minimising resource consumption is a key objective in a sustainable process. Throughput assessment explores the efficiency and productivity of the process or technology, evaluating factors such as production capacity, yield, and overall process efficiency.
Consideration of the six stages in the SELECT criteria enables decision-makers to make well-informed choices that align with sustainability and green chemistry principles whilst meeting legal requirements and economic goals.
References
References
Cannibals with forks: the triple bottom line of 21st century business: Elkington, J., Capstone, 1997.
Sustainability: an overview of the triple bottom line and sustainability implementation: Correia, M.S., Int. J. Strategic Eng., 2019, 2, 29–38.
The social dimension of sustainable development: human capital formation, employment, and education: Chatterjee, S., Observer Research Foundation, 2023.
Green capabilities, green purchasing, and triple bottom line performance: Leading toward environmental sustainability: Khan, S.A.R., Yu., Z., Farooq, K., Bus. Strat. Environ. 2023, 32, 2022–2034.
Environmental and economic dimensions of sustainability and price effects on consumer responses: Choi, S. and Ng, A, J. Bus. Ethics 2011, 104, 269–282.
The impact of lean management practices and sustainably-oriented innovation on sustainability performance of small and medium-sized enterprises: empirical evidence from the UK: Dey, P.K., Malesios, C., De, D., Chowdhury, S. and Abdelaziz, F.B. Br. J. Manag. 2020, 31, 141–161.
Towards a sustainability paradigm; the nexus between lean green practices, sustainability-oriented innovation and Triple Bottom Line: Jum’a, L., Zimon, D., Ikram, M., and Madzík, P. Int. J. Prod. Econ. 2022, 245, 108393.
Critical assessment of pharmaceutical processes - a rationale for changing the synthetic route: Butters, M., Catterick, D., Craig, A., Curzons, A., Dale, D., Gillmore, A. Green, S.P., Marziano, I., Sherlock, J.-P. and White, W. Chem. Rev. 2006, 106, 3002–3027.
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