It is commonly said that prevention is the best cure. This holds equally true for our well-being, the health of the planet, and even industry. Hence, when it comes to the mother of all materials—chemicals—moving in the green direction is the need of the hour.
Based on the core Genesys of leveraging bio-degradable renewable feedstocks, energy efficiency, and designing safer and cleaner chemicals, Green chemistry is best understood as a holistic approach to enhancing sustainability, covering all aspects of the creation of chemicals from design to manufacturing and cradle-to-grave. With chemicals being the building blocks of modern life – from agriculture and pharmaceuticals to flavours and fragrances – the principles governing green chemistry have created a potential to achieve sustainability at scale for the nation and industry as it not only reduces or eliminates hazards but also provides an opportunity to design chemicals that inherently safer and less hazardous.
For a country which has the sixth-largest chemical industry globally and is poised to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.2% and reach USD 383 billion by 2030, widespread adoption of green chemistry practices will reaffirm India’s commitment to sustainable growth in line with evolving markets.
Why the industry needs green chemistryÂ
Traditionally, chemicals have been associated with hazardous waste and pollution. Hence, by adopting oleochemicals, which are chemicals derived from plant—and animal-based chemistries and greener manufacturing practices, the generation of hazardous substances is eliminated at the source. Not only does this create environmentally friendly, cleaner chemicals, but it also helps reduce costs for expensive effluent treatment and waste management. While green chemistry promotes safer processes with lesser waste discharge, reducing pollution, oleochemicals eliminate the need for fossil fuel feedstock, making them biodegradable and safer for the environment.
The massive impact of climate change has shown that exposure reduction is not a satisfactory mitigation strategy for people, communities, and the environment. We must promote hazard reduction and focus on prevention as a guiding principle. Instead of best-in-class effluent treatment and carbon offsetting, switching to green chemistry solutions helps directly alleviate national and environmental issues like air and water pollution, reduce carbon emissions at scale, and enhance energy efficiency. For instance, between 2004 and 2013, the US drug industry decreased the use of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) by 50%. The amount of chemical waste released in the environment (air, land, and water) decreased by 7% during the same period, according to analysis by the country’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Industry leaders and policymakers must acknowledge the transformative potential of green chemistry and oleochemicals for climate mitigation at a national level and incentivise its adoption across the sector and its value chains.
Understanding consumer preferencesÂ
While consumers may not directly deal with chemical ingredients, such chemicals form an inextricable part of their daily lives. Chemicals are the base of all consumer products, from cosmetics to snacks to medicines. Rising consumer demand has resulted in a proliferation of domestic and international FMCGs, resulting in stiff market competition. A deep understanding of changing consumer preferences is the differentiating factor for companies with higher market share.
With rising environmental awareness, consumers want sustainable products that offer value for money. Despite green chemistry’s promise of lower emissions and better performance, manufacturers have witnessed a slower uptake of such solutions due to perceived high costs and low ROIs. Hence, with consumers increasingly becoming conscious of the environmental impact of such goods, the industry needs to combat the perception that green chemistry is too expensive or cumbersome to adopt.
There is a need to raise public awareness about the implications of green chemistry and how it promotes sustainability in consumers’ lives, helping to reduce their individual carbon footprint. This will help build public momentum to adopt green practices in chemical manufacturing and encourage wider collaborations across sectors, particularly between academia and industry, to strengthen Research & Development (R&D) for green technologies. R&D enables green solutions that are economically viable to adopt. Introducing specialised programmes/diploma courses for green chemistry at technical universities will strengthen domestic capabilities for R&D. Additionally, incorporating green chemistry in school curricula, in environmental education for younger students and in science subjects in secondary schools will help foster the next generation of green chemists and engineers.
Unlocking cleaner chemicals through R&DÂ
When we talk about green chemistry, we refer to its massive potential to reduce carbon emissions, enhance sustainability, and create cleaner, safer chemicals. However, chemical manufacturers are forced to rely on conventional chemistries simply due to the lack of available green technologies and processes. Investment in domestic R&D can fill this gap while making green chemistry solutions more cost-effective and accessible to smaller manufacturers. This, in turn, will help create environmentally friendly products that are affordable for consumers, satisfying their need for sustainable goods at reasonable prices.
The success of green technologies and their widespread adoption in the Indian context ultimately boils down to sustained investment in R&D, which is crucial for envisioning sustainability in newer and increasingly effective ways. Currently, India needs to catch up in R&D investment compared to other global players. While we spend about 0.64% of our total GDP on R&D, for China and the US, it’s 2.41% and 3.4%, respectively.
Hence, the first meaningful step towards a sustainable future is to get our fundamentals right through robust R&D, necessitating higher, long-term investments. Systemically developing sustainable practices and products through knowledge-sharing and collaborations between stakeholders (including industry, government, and academia) builds a foundation that engenders future innovation, keeping in with changing times.
Investment in sustainability-focused R&D infrastructure and projects will help make green chemistry viable, especially in India, where conventional petro-based chemistries are still the norm. Publicly funded research into green chemistry solutions is an incredibly effective way for the government to support sustainability efforts for the chemicals sector, especially smaller manufacturers who may have limited capabilities to create their green solutions. Simplifying regulations and incentivising the adoption of green technologies will help kickstart an industry-wide commitment to sustainable chemical production.
Creating pathways for sustainable growthÂ
Successfully shifting to greener technologies in manufacturing will undoubtedly be a mammoth exercise for India. However, it is also essential and time-sensitive. Contributing to India’s sustainable development journey by committing to green practices requires both immediate measures and long-term initiatives by all stakeholders.
The need of the hour is stronger cross-sector collaborations to implement green chemistry in manufacturing better for the benefit of both domestic consumers and global supply chains. Universities, manufacturers, suppliers, and governments at the local and national levels need to work together on a holistic approach to green chemistry. To drive greater adoption of greener practices in chemical manufacturing, it’s crucial to foster knowledge-sharing and partnerships that make eco-friendly solutions accessible and affordable. Equally important are public awareness campaigns that spotlight the role of green technologies in sustainability, along with marketing strategies that align these innovations with consumer values. Together, these efforts can accelerate the shift toward more sustainable growth for the Indian industry.
In the long term, continued regulatory support and favourable policies to incentivise green and circular production will encourage the sector’s sustained growth while nurturing its global competitive edge.
