LAUNCHING THE GLOBAL GREENCHEM INNOVATION AND NETWORK PROGRAMME IN UKRAINE
In 2023, the Global Green Chemistry Innovation and Networking Programme (GreenChem) was officially launched worldwide. The Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Centre has been implementing the Programme in Ukraine, and thus it organized an information event on April 25, 2023 aiming to get familiar with the Programme.
The participants and stakeholders learned more about the Programme, its components and benefits, discussed new opportunities for the development of green chemistry in Ukraine, and learned about the details of national stakeholders’ participation in the GreenChem.
Three Programme components:
– Green Chemistry Innovation and Inclusion Network for Capacity Building aims at the development of a robust Global Green Chemistry Innovation and Inclusion Network, connecting collectives and individuals, including scientists, entrepreneurs, and representatives from government, industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations.
– Green Chemistry Accelerator Programme focuses on the establishment and execution of six (6) multi-year accelerator programs, providing support and training for sustainable businesses and business ideas in the area of green chemistry, nurturing regional innovation ecosystems in the focus nations.
– Green Chemistry alternatives for POPs, mercury and micro-plastics for upscaling and replication demonstrates green chemistry alternatives and capacities in selected chemical & waste related focus sectors.
The representatives from the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at the Yale University (USA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation UNIDO, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Centre were invited to present the Programme.
The audience of the event included more than 140 participants, including, in addition to the above-mentioned, all those interested in and working in the chemical industry, directly related to the circular economy and environmental protection (representatives of companies, organizations, associations, non-governmental organizations, financial and research institutions).
In his speech Roman Filonenko, the Director of Waste Management and Environmental Safety Department at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, described the situation in Ukraine in the chemical industry, which is not very optimistic at present due to the lack of mandatory assessment of hazard chemicals, unified registers, lists, information databases on chemicals and a number of other reasons. However, thanks to the draft law, Ukraine will soon have a chemicals management and safety system in place, as well as enhanced control over hazardous chemicals.
Dr. Lars Ratjen as a Program Manager represented the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering of the Yale University. In his keynote presentation, he familiarized everyone with the GreenChem Programme details, the founders of green chemisrty Paul Anastas and John Warner back in 1998, who, in addition to giving the definition to “green chemistry,” also developed its 12 key principles. In general, the presentation mentioned the search for green alternatives, the development of a green chemistry network, the SDGs, the implementation of a global network that aims to bring together individuals and teams, form a platform for communication between scientists, entrepreneurs and government representatives, any interested parties from industry, academia and non-governmental organizations seeking to create a green chemistry ecosystem, etc.
Two chemical management experts from the Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Centre got the participants quainted with the three components of the Programme. Thus, Olena Tabachuk focused on explaining Component 1: Green Chemistry Innovation and Inclusion Network for Capacity Building, and Component 2: Green Chemistry Accelerator Programme. Oleksandr Khokhotva spoke about green chemistry alternatives for POPs, mercury and micro-plastics for for upscaling and replication (component 3).
The online event was accompanied by a lively discussion, the participants showed great interest in participating in the Programme as a demonstration company and were active in the Q&A section.
Reference:
Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry applies across the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, use, and ultimate disposal.
About GreenChem Programme
The Global GreenChem Innovation and Network Programme (GreenChem) aims to strengthen the sound management of industrial chemicals and their waste through better control, reduction, and/or elimination protocols, and specifically to scale up green chemistry solutions for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury replacement through capacity building, innovation, and the creation of a global green chemistry network fostering visibility, support, and implementation.
The project is funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and executed by Yale University in close collaboration with governmental counterparts of six beneficiary focus countries (Indonesia, Jordan, Peru, Serbia, Uganda, and Ukraine).
For more information, please click here.