Introduction to green chemistry

GCH5010 presents the fundamentals of green chemistry and connects the science behind sustainability issues with efforts that can be taken to create solutions. Green Chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. While there are many mechanisms and tools available to assess the impact of materials and processes on human health and the environment, there are few tools available to help design and create products as such. This course explores examples from a wide spectrum of industrial sectors including construction, personal care, pharmaceuticals and electronics. Through examples, you are presented with the premise that green chemistry offers organisations a boost to innovation and faster time to market.

In this unit you will address how green and sustainable chemistry can be a central driver in the circular economy and addressing and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The unit overviews the principles of green chemistry, linking these to the UN SDGs.