Barriers to the Implementation of Green Chemistry in the United States

Abstract

Abstract:This paper investigates the conditions under which firms are able to develop and implement innovations with sustainable development benefits. In particular, we examine "green chemistry" innovations in the United States. Via interviews with green chemistry leaders from industry, academia, NGOs and government, we identified six major categories of challenges commonly confronted by innovators. They are: (1) economic and financial, (2) regulatory, (3) technical, (4) organizational, (5) cultural and (6) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 2 two elements of these that are particular to the implementation of green chemistry innovations are the absence of clear definitions and metrics for use by researchers and decision makers, as well as the interdisciplinary demands of these innovations on researchers and management. Finally, we conclude with some of the strategies that have been successful thus far in overcoming these barriers, and the types of policies which could have positive impacts moving forward.

Fuzzy AHP approach to prioritize enablers of green supply chain management practices: A case study of automotive component supplier

“…The factors identified for GSC implementation in MSMEs are listed below in Table 1. Digalwara & Metri, 2004;Yu, 2007;Lin & Hui, 2008;Pawanchik & Sulaiman, 2010;Wu et al 2010;Matus et al, 2012;Luthra et. al.…”

Green nanomaterials: On track for a sustainable future

“…Initiatives are necessary to evaluate the feasibility of adapting the existing technologies to commercial-scale production. The financial and regulatory barriers due to the unclear toxicology of nanomaterials may be the greatest hurdles for most green nanotechnologies [30]. Green nanotechnology often requires entirely new processes, making it initially expensive to move into production.…”

“…For example, Pfizer has saved millions of dollars to date from the green process to synthesize sertraline. The implementation of this green chemistry has resulted in revenue increase enough to overcome the costs, including capital investment and all of the costs associated with recertifying the drug with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration [30]. In the past few decades, environmental regulations implemented by the government have had a significant impact on the chemical enterprise.…”

“…Therefore, many firms have to use their resources on mandated actions and end-ofpipe technologies, instead of investing in green process to ensure inherently safer products and processes. This is evidence by the fact that chemical manufacturing spent more than any other industrial sector on pollution abatement [30]. Obviously, a regulatory focus on risk control, rather than risk prevention, poses a serious barrier.…”

Continuous Flow Reactions: From Green Chemistry Towards a Green Process

“…Segundo estudo recente, 6 os maiores obstáculos para a implementação dos preceitos da química verde na indústria química americana são as barreiras financeiras e regulatórias. Do ponto de vista financeiro, destaca-se o fato de as empresas possuírem um enorme capital já empregado em processos obsoletos do ponto de vista da química verde, porém otimizados, onde a introdução destes preceitos requer uma completa re-engenharia, o que pode tornar a mudança inviável do ponto de vista financeiro, uma vez que os benefícios econômicos não são claros.…”