Funding activities by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt) in the field of sustainable chemistry

Abstract

Sustainable chemistry is the attempt to design chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances, minimize waste and energy consumption, favor renewable resources and integrate aspects of recycling. Since 2004, the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (German Federal Environmental Foundation) supported more than 70 projects in the area of “Sustainable Chemistry”. In this paper, current results and approaches of these sponsored projects are reviewed, e.g., substitution of fossil raw materials and biorefinery concepts, catalytic processes, novel solvent systems including solvent-free synthesis. The application of microstructured equipment and chemical reaction under novel process regimes, i.e., so-called “novel process windows” are summarized, and a brief look at concepts for inherently safe chemicals, new business models, e.g., chemical leasing and early stage eco-balancing, is given. It is revealed that industrial sustainable chemistry is no longer an emerging trend but already a reality.