17.4 Sustainable polymers and green chemistry approaches

Sustainable polymers and green chemistry aim to minimize environmental impact throughout a polymer's life cycle. From raw material sourcing to disposal, these approaches reduce hazardous substances, waste, and energy use while promoting renewable resources.

Traditional polymers rely on fossil fuels and contribute to climate change and pollution. In contrast, sustainable polymers like biobased and biodegradable options offer eco-friendly alternatives. However, challenges in performance, cost, and infrastructure must be addressed for widespread adoption.

Sustainable Polymers and Green Chemistry

Sustainable polymers and green chemistry

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• Sustainable polymers designed to minimize environmental impact throughout their life cycle from raw material sourcing, production, use, and end-of-life disposal
• Green chemistry approaches apply principles that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances in polymer synthesis and processing aiming to minimize waste, conserve energy, and use renewable resources

Environmental impact of traditional polymers

• Production impacts rely on non-renewable fossil fuel resources (oil, natural gas) with greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change and potential release of toxic chemicals during synthesis and processing
• Disposal impacts include accumulation of non-biodegradable polymers in landfills and the environment, marine pollution such as the formation of microplastics in oceans, and release of harmful additives and chemicals during degradation

Green chemistry principles in polymers

• Prevention of waste by designing processes to minimize waste generation and optimizing reaction conditions and stoichiometry
• Atom economy maximizes the incorporation of all starting materials into the final product while minimizing the formation of byproducts
• Less hazardous chemical syntheses select reagents and reaction pathways with lower toxicity and environmental impact using safer solvents and reaction conditions
• Designing safer chemicals develops polymers with reduced toxicity and improved safety profiles considering the entire life cycle of the polymer

Examples of sustainable polymers

• Biobased polymers derived from renewable biological resources (plants, microorganisms) such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and cellulose-based polymers
• Biodegradable polymers can be broken down by microorganisms into natural substances (water, carbon dioxide, biomass) including polycaprolactone (PCL), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and starch-based polymers
• Recyclable polymers can be reprocessed and reused after their initial use such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP)

Challenges of sustainable polymer technologies

• Challenges include ensuring comparable performance and durability to traditional polymers, scaling up production and achieving cost-effectiveness, establishing efficient recycling and waste management infrastructure, and addressing consumer perception and acceptance
• Opportunities involve reducing dependence on finite fossil fuel resources, mitigating environmental impacts and contributing to a circular economy, driving innovation in polymer science and engineering, meeting growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products, and complying with increasingly stringent environmental regulations and policies