EuChemS recognises the achievements of individual scientists and teams through the European Sustainable Chemistry Award (ESCA). The European Sustainable Chemistry Award is intended to be a prestigious scheme which will raise the profile of sustainable chemistry and be a spur to innovation and competitiveness.

The ESCA was initially launched in 2010. The Division of Green and Sustainable Chemistry (DGSC) nominate the winner of the European Sustainable Chemistry Award (ESCA), that will be made public during the sessions of the corresponding biannual EuChemS Chemistry Conference.

Rationale

The European Sustainable Chemistry Award is designed to:

• recognise individuals or small research groups which make an outstanding contribution to sustainable development by applying green and sustainable chemistry;

• promote innovation in chemistry and chemicals that will deliver clear improvements in the sustainable production and use of chemicals and chemical products;

• demonstrate that chemistry and chemicals can play a central role in delivering society’s needs, while minimizing and solving environmental problems.

  
  

Successful national green and sustainable chemistry award schemes have been in place for some years in several European countries and outside Europe and a recent study by the Economist Intelligence Unit points to the value of awards as demand side solutions as a key element in pushing the EU further up the global innovation rankings. The European Sustainable Chemistry Award is intended to be a prestigious scheme which will raise the profile of sustainable chemistry and be a spur to innovation and competitiveness.

Scientific focus

The Award covers innovations in the following scientific areas:

• the use of alternative synthetic pathways, that increase resource efficiency and selectivity e.g. with the help of catalysis or natural processes;

• the use of alternative feedstocks which are safer and/or renewable e.g. based on biomass;

• the use of alternative reactor design and reaction conditions, such as use of solvents which deliver health and environmental benefits, or increased yield and reduced waste and emissions;

• the design and use of chemicals and chemical products that are, for example, less environmentally harmful than current alternatives, or inherently safer with regard to hazardous concerns.

More information:

https://www.euchems.eu/divisions/green-and-sustainable-chemistry-2/publications-reports-other-references/