United Nations Environment Programme

UNEP’s Green and Sustainable Chemistry: Framework Manual

Developed in consultation with experts from industry, academia, government, international organizations and NGO’s, the Green and Sustainable Chemistry: Framework Manual provides a high-level overview of various scientific, technical and policy aspects of green and sustainable chemistry.

The first part of the Manual addresses the questions of “Why” is green and sustainable chemistry needed and “What” does it aim to achieve. “How” to achieve a transformation to green and sustainable chemistry is then explored through an overview of enabling tools and measures (e.g. green and sustainable chemistry education)

Chapter 3 of the Framework Manual contains the 10 Objectives and Guiding Considerations for Green and Sustainable Chemistry. Developed through a global consensus building process, the 10 Objectives highlights the outcomes which green and sustainable chemistry action can achieve.

The overall intention of the Framework manual is to foster learning and scaling-up action to advance the Ten Objectives - Unveiling the full potential of chemistry such that it is compatible with, and supports, the implementation of the 2030 sustainable development agenda

Specialized Manual on Green and Sustainable Chemistry Education and Learning

To inspire and guide transformative action, UNEP has developed a Specialized Manual on Green and Sustainable Chemistry Education and Learning.

By including formal, non-formal and informal aspects of green and sustainable chemistry learning, the specialized manual caters to education system actors as well as strategic change agents which influence the way chemistry is practiced. A synthesis of all dimensions of green and sustainable chemistry learning is offered in the Specialized Manual along with practical guidance, illustrative examples and organized educational resources.

Ultimately, the Specialized manual strives to raise awareness, enhance knowledge and develop skills of all stakeholders who have a role to play in applying the Ten Objectives and Guiding Considerations.

UNEP’s Practical Guidance for Strategic Action to Advance Green and Sustainable Chemistry

Building upon the final chapter of the Framework Manual, and in response to UNEA Resolution 5/7, UNEP developed a webpage containing practical guidance to carry out the planning and implementation of strategic action to advance green and sustainable chemistry. Along with the Framework Manual, the guidance draws upon the shared experiences of stakeholders who have built strategic initiatives that are relevant to green and sustainable chemistry.

Green and Sustainable Chemistry Innovation in Key Industrial Sectors

The rapid growth of chemical-intensive industry sectors such as construction, agriculture, electronics and textiles creates risks, but also opportunities to advance sustainable consumption, production and product innovation. Green and sustainable chemistry innovation has the potential to drive sustainability in these key industrial sectors. The application of UNEP’s Objectives within these sectors can help identify opportunities and promote action to advance innovations which reduce impacts on human health and the environment along the value chain.

A workshop held in Paris in 2023 was co-organized by UNEP’s Chemicals and Health Branch and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) Secretariat to bring together experts in green and sustainable chemistry, and those working towards a more sustainable buildings and construction sector. Participants discussed the potential of chemical innovations to support a more sustainable buildings and construction value chain, and key strategies to reach that potential. The analysis and workshop outcome report seeks to capture these discussions. It also contains a translation of UNEP’s Objectives for the buildings and construction sector, which may help guide stakeholders to continue this work for other important sectors.