Chemistry

6.14 - Sustainable Production

6 min

Sustainable development

Resources and energy use

Reusing and recycling

Recycling glass and metals

note 1 of 2

Sustainable production

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
To be sustainable:
- Finite resources must not be used up so quickly that there's little left for future generations.
- Environmental damage must not be so great that it harms the lives of future generations.

The role of chemistry

Chemists improve agricultural and industrial processes and develop new products.
They develop routes that use fewer finite resources, require less energy, and produce less waste and environmental damage.

Sustainability of a single process

Sustainability measures how well a process meets current demand without long-term damage to the environment.
Comparing different production routes lets industry choose the most sustainable option.
Green chemistry focuses on designing sustainable processes from the start, rather than dealing with waste afterwards.

note 2 of 2

What decides how sustainable a process is

Renewability of raw materials - Processes using renewable raw materials can run indefinitely, whereas those relying on finite resources must be developed to use less of them.
Competition for raw materials - Using raw materials that are in high demand across multiple industries puts pressure on supplies.
By-products and waste - Reactions should produce as little waste as possible. Useful by-products can be used in other industrial processes, while hazardous waste requires safe disposal.
Energy requirements - High temperatures and pressures consume large amounts of energy (often from finite resources). Processes that use less energy or capture exothermic heat are more sustainable.

key terms

TermDefinition

Sustainable developmentDevelopment that meets the needs of current generations without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Green chemistryDesigning chemical processes to be sustainable from the start, rather than dealing with the waste they make afterwards.

end of notes

Key points to remember

Sustainable production

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

To be sustainable:

Finite resources must not be used up so quickly that there's little left for future generations.
Environmental damage must not be so great that it harms the lives of future generations.

The role of chemistry

Chemists improve agricultural and industrial processes and develop new products.

They develop routes that use fewer finite resources, require less energy, and produce less waste and environmental damage.

Sustainability of a single process

Sustainability measures how well a process meets current demand without long-term damage to the environment.

Comparing different production routes lets industry choose the most sustainable option.

Green chemistry focuses on designing sustainable processes from the start, rather than dealing with waste afterwards.

What decides how sustainable a process is

Renewability of raw materials - Processes using renewable raw materials can run indefinitely, whereas those relying on finite resources must be developed to use less of them.

Competition for raw materials - Using raw materials that are in high demand across multiple industries puts pressure on supplies.

By-products and waste - Reactions should produce as little waste as possible. Useful by-products can be used in other industrial processes, while hazardous waste requires safe disposal.

Energy requirements - High temperatures and pressures consume large amounts of energy (often from finite resources). Processes that use less energy or capture exothermic heat are more sustainable.