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By Aurora Ginzburg, Ph.D., Education Program Specialist, ACS Green Chemistry Institute

As the year draws to a close we wanted to take the opportunity to highlight some of the significant green chemistry research, educational initiatives, and innovations from 2021. This list is not in any particular order and is limited to 15 entries. Awards recognizing individual scientists—of which there are many in 2021—were not included. We welcome your addition of other significant achievements in the comments on this post!

New Method of Extracting Metals from Raw Materials

June 7, 2017 | Science Daily

A team of chemists has developed a way to process metals without using toxic solvents and reagents. The system, which also consumes far less energy than conventional techniques,

European PET Recycling Streams to Begin Incorporating PEF

May 24, 2017 | Green Chemicals Blog

The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) – a voluntary initiative of industry organizations representing waste collectors, plastic recyclers, PET material producer

Researchers Create Anticancer Nanomaterials by Simulating Underwater Volcanic Conditions

May 12, 2017 | Phys.org

Researchers at Aalto University have developed a sustainable synthesis process for Zinc peroxide using biomimicry, which uses minimal amounts of

Sustainable Polymer Technologies for Controlling Mercury Pollution

May 3, 2017 | InDaily

Work at Flinders University to test and commercialize a new method to remove mercury pollution from land and water, using polymers that were recovered and repurposed to

A Circular Economy Approach to Business Growth

April 28, 2017 | Business Live

Circular economy actors need to collaborate with governments, customers and industry chains to create joint value and to innovate using new business models and technologies.

Resear

CVS to Remove Parabens, Phthalates & Formaldehyde from over 600 Products

April 20, 2017 | Drugstore News

CVS Pharmacy announced it will remove parabens, phthalates and the most prevalent formaldehyde donors across nearly 600 beauty and personal care product

Launch Circular Innovation Summit Gathers Sustainable Industry Leaders

April 4, 2017 | Huffington Post

At the LAUNCH Circular Innovation Summit at Nike World Headquarters in Portland, Oregon, LAUNCH innovators and industry leaders from companies like Nike,

American Chemical Society Expresses Concern over Executive Order on Climate Change​

March 29, 2017 | American Chemical Society

The ACS public policy statement on Global Climate Change specifically supports the importance of addressing Earth’s changing clima

Creating Nanodust from E-Waste Could Increase Ease of Recycling

March 21, 2017 | EurekAlert

Researchers at Rice University and the Indian Institute of Science have an idea to simplify electronic waste recycling: Crush it into nanodust. Specifically, they wa

Nestle and Danone are Investing in Biobaased Water Bottles

March 9, 2017 | C&EN

Nestlé Waters and Danone are the latest beverage makers to investigate biobased polyethylene terephthalate (PET). They are teaming up with the California-based start-up Origin M

French VC Has Raised the Largest Green Biotech Fund in Europe

March 3, 2017 | LabioTech

The largest biotech VC in France, Sofinnova Partners, is banking on the emerging sector of bio-based, sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.  Its new fund of €106M wi

How Sustainability Efforts and Eliminating Waste Can Boost Brand Perception

February 23, 2017 | Green Biz

Perceptions of a company’s environmental record are intertwined with perceptions of a product and play a role in whether many of us buy Brand X or Bran

Timberland Partners with Thread International to Incorporate Plastic Waste into Fabrics

February 17, 2017 | GreenBiz

Thread transforms trash that has been collected and sorted by local workers in Haiti — where mounds of plastic bottles clogging waterways ar