idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
The European Chemical Society, jointly with the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the German Universities Chemistry Department Consortium (KFC), provided feedback on the European Commission’s Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) (https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/industrial-research-a...) framework pilot.
SSbD is a voluntary framework that can be applied during the chemical- and material related innovation process in order to minimise negative effects on human health and environment, as well as the use of harmful substances and in general, make the process more sustainable.
Chemical Societies welcome the initiative and its holistic, science-based approach to improving safety and sustainability in the development of chemicals and materials. However, as key feedback, Chemical Societies advise against “blanket bans” on entire classes of chemicals, as such measures could hinder scientific freedoms and basic research. Chemical Societies call for a balanced approach and exemptions in case of basic research and chemical education. In their feedback, Chemical Societies highlight that training in the safe handling of hazardous chemicals is an integral component of academic programs.
Chemical education is fundamental for the implementation of the SSbD principle, as it plays a critical role in preparing future chemists to meet the highest standards of proficiency. Therefore, Chemical Societies emphasise the importance of chemical education in their feedback, and call for the integration of the principles of green chemistry, green engineering, sustainable chemistry, ecotoxicology, life cycle assessment, recycle chemistry, and safe and sustainable by design into university curricula.
Chemical Societies underscore the link between basic research and chemical education, and the key role universities play in performing these tasks and call for the establishment of funding programs to facilitate the adoption of SSbD principles into basic research, and contribute to the sustainability of the discipline.
Chemical Societies also pointed out the vast resources learned chemical societies represent. These communities of 160.000 active chemists across Europe strengthen the EU’s knowledge-based society. Therefore, Chemical Societies advised policymakers to utilise this network in addressing societal challenges by creating forward-looking framework conditions that prioritize innovation, collaboration, and sustainability.
MORE INFO ON EUCHEMS’ POLICY ADVISORY ACTIVITIES
https://www.euchems.eu/communication/chemicals-strategy/
https://www.euchems.eu/communication/science-policy-advice/
ABOUT GDCh, EUCHEMS AND CONTACTS
The German Chemical Society (Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, GDCh) has around 30,000 members and is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of new scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports the creation of networks, transdisciplinary and international cooperation, and continuous education and training in schools, universities and professional environments. The GDCh has 27 divisions and 60 local sections.
EuChemS, the European Chemical Society, is an umbrella organisation representing national Chemical Societies and other chemistry-related organisations in Europe. EuChemS aims to nurture a platform for scientific discussion and to provide a single, unbiased European voice on key policy issues in Chemistry and related fields. Through the promotion of Chemistry and by providing expert and scientific advice, EuChemS aims to take part in the solution to today´s major societal challenges.
Professor Guido Kickelbick
KFC Spokesperson guido.kickelbick@uni-saarland.de
Dr. Hans-Georg Weinig
GDCh Director Education, Carreer and Science h.weinig@gdch.de
Dr. Nineta Hrastelj
EuChemS Secretary General nineta.hrastelj@euchems.eu
http://www.gdch.de
http://www.euchems.eu
Criteria of this press release:
Journalists, Scientists and scholars
Chemistry, Materials sciences
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Science policy
English
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