The Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry

In this, the centenary year of the Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Division, we present a dozen short essays, one for each of the 12 principles of green chemistry. These principles were first articulated in 1998 as a set of tools to help the design scientist to anticipate downstream issues at the earliest stage of an R&D effort. Recognizing that most materials scientists lack the formal training necessary to deal with issues related to human health, the environment, and regulatory implications, the twelve principles serve to provide a path forward in designing products and processes that would be less environmentally damaging while maintaining or enhancing product performance and economic cost. Designing processes to minimize environmental impact has become, in recent years, essential to industrial and engineering chemistry, and is likely to shape the field for the next 100 years.