M9.3 Green Chemistry

I had not heard of "Green Chemistry" prior to this course. Green chemistry prevents pollution by reducing or eliminating the use of hazardous substances from the very beginning. This does not mean conducting clean-up programs, which would be considered remediation efforts. Green chemistry prevents hazardous materials of even entering the environment. One prime example of this is a video that I came upon while researching green chemistry. The video depicts a woman who only produces enough trash to fill one 16 oz jar in a two year time frame. This includes choosing produce and materials that do not include hazardous chemicals in the packaging.

The idea of adhering to Green Chemistry's 12 principles is great in theory. For myself, I know that it would be extremely difficult. However, I can see how this will drastically benefit myself and the environment. Principles such as preventing waste and designing safer chemicals and products will help both personal and overall environmental safety. Renewal sources and biodegradable products can help reduce bioaccumulation in the environment. Real time pollution prevention can also help minimize potential for other accidents that contribute to environmental hazards.