Embedding Chemistry and Pharmacy Into Sustainability

Abstract

ABSTRACT Chemistry and pharmacy provide products and processes that are essential to our high standard of living. Chemistry is the central science when it comes to the transformation of substances, in pharmacy too. Against the backdrop of sustainability, both chemistry and pharmacy face similar challenges. They have taken up aspects of environmental friendliness, circular economy, and sustainability. However, the term “green” is often used synonymously with “sustainable” or even combined as “green and sustainable,” even though sustainability can not be considered synonymous with “green.” Sustainable chemistry and pharmacy recognize that green and circular chemistry and pharmacy are important tools. They, however, go far beyond. This article provides an integrated overview of green, circular, and sustainable chemistry and pharmacy to clarify their respective areas of application and the respective interplay between “green” and “circular” and “sustainable” so that both, chemistry and pharmacy can fulfill their promise of delivering sustainable contributions to sustainability in a sustainable manner. This article illustrates that it is not sufficient simply to place sustainability alongside chemistry or pharmacy—“for” or “and” sustainability—but that chemistry and pharmacy must be fully embedded into sustainability.