Principles of Green Chemistry

Developed by Paul Anastas and John Warner*, the following list outlines an early conception of what would make a greener chemical, process, or product. 

1. Prevention
2. Atom Economy
3. Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses
4. Designing Safer Chemicals
5. Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries
6. Design for Energy Efficiency
7. Use of Renewable Feedstocks
8. Reduce Derivatives
9. Catalysis
10. Design for Degradation
11. Real-time analysis for Pollution Prevention
12. Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention

*Anastas, P. T.; Warner, J. C. Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, Oxford University Press: New York, 1998, p.30. By permission of Oxford University Press.

Developed by Paul Anastas and Julie Zimmerman**, these engineering principles outline what would make a greener chemical process or product. See also the Sandestin principles of green engineering.

1. ·         Inherent Rather Than Circumstantial
2. ·         Prevention Instead of Treatment
3. ·         Design for Separation
4. ·         Maximize Efficiency
5. ·         Output-Pulled Versus Input-Pushed
6. ·         Conserve Complexity
7. ·         Durability Rather Than Immortality
8. ·         Meet Need, Minimize Excess
9. ·         Minimize Material Diversity
10. ·         Integrate Material and Energy Flows
11. ·         Design for Commercial "Afterlife"
12. ·         Renewable Rather than Depleting

** Anastas, P.T., and Zimmerman, J.B., "Design through the Twelve Principles of Green Engineering", Env. Sci. and Tech., 37, 5, 94A-101A, 2003.