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Circular economy, resource efficiency, and green chemistry
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SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS IN GREEN CHEMISTRY: BREAKING BARRIERS, CREATING CHANGE

This November, the Global GreenChem Hackathon within the Global GreenChem Innovation and Network Program brought together talented undergraduates, postgraduates, academics, and innovators to tackle pressing industrial chemistry challenges. With an innovative reverse pitching approach, this event flipped the traditional hackathon, with industries posing specific green chemistry problems for teams to solve. Participants addressed various challenges, from creating environmentally friendly solvents and catalysts to designing sustainable synthesis routes—transforming ideas into solutions for a greener future. 

Held from 1–3 November 2024 as a highlight of the XIII Sikorsky Challenge Festival of Innovative Projects, the event brought together 40 participants in 8 teams, all committed to advancing sustainable chemistry.

Day 1: Kickoff and Team Introductions

The hackathon kicked off Friday evening with a rundown of the event structure, rules, and prize opportunities. Engaging introductory talks set the creative tone, followed by inspiring team presentations. Participants spanned a range of backgrounds and cities—students, postgraduates, and educators from Lviv, Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Dnipro, and Kyiv. Teams like KHNU-Green, UNIeco, BIOINNOVATION, SUMKA (inspired by Sumy’s Sumka River), BT-4, GREEN VECTOR, and 044 brought their unique identities and fresh perspectives, ready to tackle the competition challenges in a vibrant and collaborative atmosphere. 

Days 2-3: Intense Innovation and Mentorship

On Saturday and Sunday morning, participants dove deep into their projects, with industry experts and mentors offering guidance and insights. Teams refined their strategies, collaborating closely to develop groundbreaking solutions. The event culminated on Sunday, when each team gave a 15-minute pitch to a panel of esteemed judges, showcasing their innovation and hard work. 

The Sponsors: Industry Leaders Supporting Green Chemistry 

DeLaMark and DOW led the way as key sponsors, each presenting unique challenges that focused on environmental impact:

  • DeLaMark, a leader in eco-certified household products in Ukraine, tasked participants with identifying high-quality, sustainable raw materials from natural or upcycled sources within Ukraine.
  • DOW, a global innovator in sustainable chemicals, encouraged teams to find safe alternatives for PFAS and halogenated flame retardants and solutions for recycling plastic packaging.

The Winning Teams 

The judging panel, including experts from the Yale University Center for Green Chemistry, Sikorsky Challenge Ukraine, Dow Europe, DeLaMark, and the RECP Centre, faced a difficult choice given the outstanding ideas presented by each team. Here are the top winners:

3rd Place – KHNU-Green (Khmelnytsky National University): $500 prize for an innovative process to produce amino acids from soy waste.

2nd Place – UNIeco (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv): $1,000 prize for their creative idea of using nut shells as an absorbent in cosmetic products.

1st Place – GreenTech (National Technical University of Ukraine ‘Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute’): $1,500 prize for developing a green alternative to palm oil, an eco-friendly emollient made from sunflower oil and azelaic acid.

This hackathon was a whirlwind of ideas, teamwork, and dynamic problem-solving as participants tackled ambitious green chemistry challenges. Over three intensive days, teams brainstormed, consulted, and innovated to present real solutions that could impact sustainability efforts in the chemical industry.

Stay tuned as these incredible ideas continue to inspire sustainable progress in green chemistry!

More photos from the hackathon can be found on the Green Chemistry project page (see the ‘Information Events’ section at the bottom of the page)!

Organizers
The hackathon was organized by the RECP Centre in Ukraine in collaboration with the Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering at Yale University under GEF-funded UNIDO project “The Global GreenChem Innovation and Network Programme”.