Professor Rodney TownsendProfessor Rodney TownsendChairman, SusChem BoardChairman, SusChem Board

Head, EuCheMS Policy Working GroupHead, EuCheMS Policy Working Group

Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2010 Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2010

Contribution to Panel Discussion onContribution to Panel Discussion on““Green Chemistry – Solution Provider or Idealist’s Dream?Green Chemistry – Solution Provider or Idealist’s Dream?

My apologies for absence My apologies for absence due to health problemsdue to health problems

Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2010 Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2010 ““Green Chemistry – Solution provider or Idealist’s Dream?Green Chemistry – Solution provider or Idealist’s Dream?

• Consumers are confused by the terms “green”, “natural” and “organic” Consumers are confused by the terms “green”, “natural” and “organic” and often think these are different terms for the same thing, which they are and often think these are different terms for the same thing, which they are notnot! This can be exploited by manufacturers and if this happens, this in turn ! This can be exploited by manufacturers and if this happens, this in turn promotes scepticism of the need to be more sustainable in all that we do.promotes scepticism of the need to be more sustainable in all that we do.

• For this reason, it is important to educate everyone, including the general For this reason, it is important to educate everyone, including the general public, to use a more appropriate term than “green”, which anyway has public, to use a more appropriate term than “green”, which anyway has strong political overtones in some EU Member States. strong political overtones in some EU Member States.

• “ “Green” should be replaced by “sustainable” but it is not then “sustainable Green” should be replaced by “sustainable” but it is not then “sustainable chemistry” that should be used but rather “sustainable chemical chemistry” that should be used but rather “sustainable chemical technologies”. There is after all no such thing as an intrinsically sustainabletechnologies”. There is after all no such thing as an intrinsically sustainablechemical – it is the chemical – it is the whole systemwhole system, from cradle to grave, that matters., from cradle to grave, that matters.

Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2010 Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2010 ““Green Chemistry – Solution provider or Idealist’s Dream?Green Chemistry – Solution provider or Idealist’s Dream?

• This is turn emphasises the need for This is turn emphasises the need for full partnershipfull partnership between industry, between industry, technologist and government, with the latter in particular putting in placetechnologist and government, with the latter in particular putting in placethe right the right driversdrivers to enable change – not just fiscal, but also regulatory and to enable change – not just fiscal, but also regulatory andgreen public procurement (GPP).green public procurement (GPP).

• However, it is critically important to recognise that fiscal, regulatory and However, it is critically important to recognise that fiscal, regulatory and GPP drivers must be the appropriate ones, which set an agenda for beneficial GPP drivers must be the appropriate ones, which set an agenda for beneficial change change without stifling innovation but rather by nurturing itwithout stifling innovation but rather by nurturing it..

• A key framework therefore for movement towards innovative sustainableA key framework therefore for movement towards innovative sustainablechemical systems which encourage beneficial innovative products is that wechemical systems which encourage beneficial innovative products is that wehave have commonly agreed life cycle analysis toolscommonly agreed life cycle analysis tools in place. These should also in place. These should alsobe used as the benchmark for regulatory changes and for GPP.be used as the benchmark for regulatory changes and for GPP.