The Need for Change: A Roadmap for the Sustainable Transformation of the Chemical Industry
The chemical industry faces major challenges worldwide. Since 1950, production has increased 50-fold and is projected to continue growing, particularly in Asia. It is one of the most energy- and resource-intensive industries, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and the depletion o...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Sustainable Chemistry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4079/6/2/16 |
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| author | Klaus Günter Steinhäuser Markus Große Ophoff |
| author_facet | Klaus Günter Steinhäuser Markus Große Ophoff |
| author_sort | Klaus Günter Steinhäuser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The chemical industry faces major challenges worldwide. Since 1950, production has increased 50-fold and is projected to continue growing, particularly in Asia. It is one of the most energy- and resource-intensive industries, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and the depletion of finite resources. This development exceeds planetary boundaries and calls for a sustainable transformation of the industry. The key transformation areas are as follows: (1) Non-Fossil Energy Supply: The industry must transition away from fossil fuels. Renewable electricity can replace natural gas, while green hydrogen can be used for high-temperature processes. (2) Circularity: Chemical production remains largely linear, with most products ending up as waste. Sustainable product design and improved recycling processes are crucial. (3) Non-Fossil Feedstock: To achieve greenhouse gas neutrality, oil, gas, and coal must be replaced by recycling plastics, renewable biomaterials, or CO<sub>2</sub>-based processes. (4) Sustainable Chemical Production: Energy and resource savings can be achieved through advancements like catalysis, biotechnology, microreactors, and new separation techniques. (5) Sustainable Chemical Products: Chemicals should be designed to be “Safe and Sustainable by Design” (SSbD), meaning they should not have hazardous properties unless essential to their function. (6) Sufficiency: Beyond efficiency and circularity, reducing overall material flows is essential to stay within planetary boundaries. This shift requires political, economic, and societal efforts. Achieving greenhouse gas neutrality in Europe by 2050 demands swift and decisive action from industry, governments, and society. The speed of transformation is currently too slow to reach this goal. Science can drive innovation, but international agreements are necessary to establish a binding framework for action. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b455b4242e45469e88e093dd0bc7adc4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-4079 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sustainable Chemistry |
| spelling | doaj-art-b455b4242e45469e88e093dd0bc7adc42025-08-20T03:27:43ZengMDPI AGSustainable Chemistry2673-40792025-06-01621610.3390/suschem6020016The Need for Change: A Roadmap for the Sustainable Transformation of the Chemical IndustryKlaus Günter Steinhäuser0Markus Große Ophoff1Independent Researcher, Derfflingerstr. 14, 12249 Berlin, GermanyIndependent Researcher, Amelungstr. 14, 49082 Osnabrück, GermanyThe chemical industry faces major challenges worldwide. Since 1950, production has increased 50-fold and is projected to continue growing, particularly in Asia. It is one of the most energy- and resource-intensive industries, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and the depletion of finite resources. This development exceeds planetary boundaries and calls for a sustainable transformation of the industry. The key transformation areas are as follows: (1) Non-Fossil Energy Supply: The industry must transition away from fossil fuels. Renewable electricity can replace natural gas, while green hydrogen can be used for high-temperature processes. (2) Circularity: Chemical production remains largely linear, with most products ending up as waste. Sustainable product design and improved recycling processes are crucial. (3) Non-Fossil Feedstock: To achieve greenhouse gas neutrality, oil, gas, and coal must be replaced by recycling plastics, renewable biomaterials, or CO<sub>2</sub>-based processes. (4) Sustainable Chemical Production: Energy and resource savings can be achieved through advancements like catalysis, biotechnology, microreactors, and new separation techniques. (5) Sustainable Chemical Products: Chemicals should be designed to be “Safe and Sustainable by Design” (SSbD), meaning they should not have hazardous properties unless essential to their function. (6) Sufficiency: Beyond efficiency and circularity, reducing overall material flows is essential to stay within planetary boundaries. This shift requires political, economic, and societal efforts. Achieving greenhouse gas neutrality in Europe by 2050 demands swift and decisive action from industry, governments, and society. The speed of transformation is currently too slow to reach this goal. Science can drive innovation, but international agreements are necessary to establish a binding framework for action.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4079/6/2/16chemical industrycircular economymaterial flow managementnon-fossil feedstocksafe and sustainable by designsufficiency |
| spellingShingle | Klaus Günter Steinhäuser Markus Große Ophoff The Need for Change: A Roadmap for the Sustainable Transformation of the Chemical Industry Sustainable Chemistry chemical industry circular economy material flow management non-fossil feedstock safe and sustainable by design sufficiency |
| title | The Need for Change: A Roadmap for the Sustainable Transformation of the Chemical Industry |
| title_full | The Need for Change: A Roadmap for the Sustainable Transformation of the Chemical Industry |
| title_fullStr | The Need for Change: A Roadmap for the Sustainable Transformation of the Chemical Industry |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Need for Change: A Roadmap for the Sustainable Transformation of the Chemical Industry |
| title_short | The Need for Change: A Roadmap for the Sustainable Transformation of the Chemical Industry |
| title_sort | need for change a roadmap for the sustainable transformation of the chemical industry |
| topic | chemical industry circular economy material flow management non-fossil feedstock safe and sustainable by design sufficiency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4079/6/2/16 |
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