Chemistry of Sustainable Products: Filling the Business Void in Green-Chemistry Curricula

Abstract

There is a need for more courses that directly address the role business plays in the development of new products and technology. This is particularly true in the areas of green and sustainable chemistry where altruism is often not enough to overcome perceived increased cost. Chemistry of Sustainable Products is an undergraduate chemistry course designed for business students interested in the development of environmentally benign consumer products. It was designed to create more “pull to the market” for greener chemistry and materials by training the next business leaders in some of the foundational science behind safer products. The curriculum fuses introductory courses in general chemistry, material science, and sustainable business. The course utilizes the concept of intermolecular forces as a reoccurring theme to connect the topics of molecular interactions, material properties, toxicity, and product design. In addition to the fusion of business and chemistry, learning objectives for the course emphasize the ability to differentiate between scientific evidence and opinion, and the use of fact-based reasoning in communication. The course structure, rationale, and an initial assessment of learning are presented.