Circular Economy
DEFINITION AND CRITERIA FOR Sustainable Chemistry Created by the Expert Committee on Sustainable Chemistry (ECOSChem)
Many organizations have worked to define and describe sustainable chemistry or have developed principles for safety and sustainability for chemistry applications, including environmental justice principles centered around chemicals management.
Green chemistry strategies in pulping and biomass valorization: toward a circular bioeconomy
The transition toward a circular bioeconomy demands innovative, sustainable, and efficient technologies for biomass valorization and pulping. Green chemistry strategies, particularly organosolvent pulping pretreatment, are emerging as pivotal solutions to unlock the full potential of lignocellulosic feedstocks. Organosolvent processes employ environmentally benign solvents to selectively fractionate biomass components, enabling the recovery of high-purity cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin with minimal environmental footprint.
Green recovery of amorphous silica from silicone waste: Alkali activation and thermal treatment
This study presents a green and sustainable method for recovering high-purity silica from solid silicone by-products derived from industrial silicone oil manufacturing through alkali-assisted sol–gel synthesis, with and without thermal treatment. Sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate were used to evaluate the effects of alkali type, concentration, and calcination at 800 °C on silica yield, structure, and performance.
South Africa's Policy Framework - Does it support a just Circular Economy transition?
The document, developed by the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN), outlines South Africa’s strategic approach to transitioning towards a circular economy, emphasizing the importance of responsible and inclusive practices through initiatives like the JUST2CE project. It highlights the need for collaboration and innovative business models to enhance sustainability and resource efficiency across various sectors, ultimately fostering economic growth and social equity.
Industrial symbiosis grant funding opportunity (Washington State)
Commerce is now accepting applications for collaborative projects to spur the circular economy, diverting waste streams generated by one industry into beneficial resources for another. Industrial symbiosis project investments help foster a locally resilient supply chain, grow economic opportunities and ultimately reduce environmental impacts in communities across Washington state.