Green chemistry and responsible research and innovation: Moving beyond the 12 principles

Abstract

Green chemistry focuses on designing products and processes that minimize hazardous substances and address pollution, resource depletion, and climate change. Green chemistry products and processes could contribute to the transition to circular economy and reaching Sustainable Development Goals. However, green chemistry philosophy offers none or little guidance on social, ethical, economic, or political aspects that are inherent to complex transition processes. Such broad and future-oriented considerations are at the heart of ‘Responsible Research and Innovation’ (RRI) approach but to date the ideas of RRI and green chemistry remain largely unconnected. This study aims to shed light on how RRI and green chemistry approaches can be combined. A refined responsible roadmapping method is proposed to help researchers to go beyond the 12 principles of green chemistry and develop inter- and transdisciplinary research agendas that address technical, environmental as well as social, ethical, economic and political considerations. The method was piloted in three research projects aspiring to develop sustainable and safe chemical processes and their applications. The study demonstrates that at the early stage of research planning, the responsible roadmapping method can facilitate the integration of RRI and green chemistry practices and the development of interdisciplinary research plans, which address technical, environmental, socio-ethical, economic and political dimensions. The implications of our study for future research on roadmapping methods as well as for policy and innovation practice are discussed.