13 April 2021

Bath first UK university to sign Green Chemistry Commitment

Charter aims to train next generation of chemists in green chemistry principles.

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The University of Bath has become the first UK university to sign the Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC).

The Green Chemistry Commitment is a global initiative to help transform chemistry education by preparing chemistry students with a better understanding of green chemistry, developing innovative, environmentally sound solutions to chemical products and processes.

Signatories commit to teach their students about the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, toxicology and how chemicals affect human health and the environment, laboratory skills to design greener alternatives to chemical processes and to equip future scientists to use methods and chemicals that are benign for human health and the environment.

The GCC was signed by Chemistry Head of Department, Professor Andrew Burrows, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching), Professor Peter Lambert, facilitated by the Centre for Sustainable and Circular Technologies.

Professor Burrows said, ‘For the undergraduate programmes, it is all about making students aware of green chemistry principles and considering these when designing a reaction - for instance reducing waste, avoiding formation of harmful by-products and using renewable feedstocks. They have the opportunity to put these principles into practice during their final year research projects.

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