Top Topics – SustainChem
In 2024/2025, the sustainability strategy was developed by a strategy commission appointed by the Board. The aim of our strategy is to embed sustainability within the GDCh. In doing so, we want to use our expertise to provide information, create solutions and contribute to sustainable action in science, industry and politics.
You can find everything about our sustainability strategy on dedicated pages.
In 2024, the GDCh Board decided to give sustainability high priority and develop a sustainability strategy. We have set up dedicated pages on this topic (see link above). Further contributions on sustainable chemistry can be found at the GDCh Division of Sustainable Chemistry and the JCF Sustainability Team.
The Transbib network aims to accelerate the industrial bioeconomy in Germany. Transbib coordinator Romann Glowacki and scientist Luis Alberto González Díaz explain how it supports companies and researchers, for example in utilising wheat bran bioeconomically. Article by Katharina Käfer in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/rohstoffe-in-kaskaden-nutzen-4159300).
In April 2025, Freie Universität Berlin founded the Center for Sustainable Resources (CSR Berlin) as an umbrella organisation for sustainability projects. The university currently funds the centre; in future, it is also intended to raise its own funds. Susanne Stein, its scientific coordinator, explains how CSR Berlin supports researchers. Article by Uta Neubauer in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/verantwortungsvoll-forschen-4155389).
Nitrous oxide enters the atmosphere from fertilisers, exhaust gases and anaesthetics, among other sources, and causes around six per cent of global warming. There are currently no efficient methods for breaking down nitrous oxide. How a new metal-free catalyst could help. Article by Jan Paradies in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/nichts-zu-lachen-oder-doch-4154740).
The world is drowning in plastic waste. Chemically recovering hydrocarbons from discarded polymers could help solve the problem. However, the processes are still only at an early stage. Article by Uta Neubauer in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/erdoelersatz-aus-kunststoffabfaellen-4153083).
The aim of the European Union’s Green Deal is to create a climate-neutral, resource-efficient and competitive economy by 2050. How can greenhouse gas emissions in the chemical industry be reduced cost- and energy-efficiently? Article by Wolfgang Huebinger, Thomas Osterland and Rolf Albach in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/priorisieren-zu-nettonull-4153153).
With its “Sustainability Strategy 2030”, the GDCh is providing pioneering impetus.
As the largest chemical science society in the EU, we want to help realise the full potential of the chemical sciences in shaping a liveable future. Article by Maren Mielck in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/nachhaltigkeit-als-leitprinzip-4152045).
How can molecular energy-storage materials be produced using electricity from renewable sources? What needs to be considered when constructing fuel cells for high-current operation, how can CO2 reduction be achieved with more than two electrons, and are electrochemically produced energy carriers competitive? Article by Emil Roduner, Thomas Osterland and Wolfgang Hübinger in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/elektrosynthese-mit-sonne-und-wind-4148993).
Time is running out to prevent a massive mountain of electronic waste from decommissioned solar panels – an estimated 80 million tonnes will accumulate by the end of 2025. The raw materials they contain should be recovered and reused. Article by Christian Ehrensberger in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/demontieren-trennen-recyceln-4140292)
Efficiently using renewable energy and reducing CO2 emissions requires additional energy storage systems and a better system for flexibly matching electricity demand to availability. How can chemical energy stores such as hydrogen be used for this purpose? Article by Thomas Osterland, Wolfgang Hübinger and Emil Roduner (Free Access in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/chemische-energie-richtig-speichern-4148276
Chemical recycling processes such as pyrolysis followed by processing the pyrolysis oils break plastics down into their chemical components. These can be returned to the production cycle. This is now even intended to be possible for composite materials. Article by Tobias Rieger, Thomas Fehn and Alexander Hofmann (Free Access in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/rotoren-zu-aromaten-4133776).
Recycling electric-car batteries makes supply chains for materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. Until this becomes possible, the transition phase in Europe should be optimised in the interests of responsible resource use. Article by Jannis Wesselkämper and Stephan von Delft (Free Access in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/wie-batterien-im-kreis-laufen-4145115 ).
The biggest problem of the energy transition is the discrepancy in time and location between electricity supply and use. Flexible storage capacities and battery types are therefore necessary. Overall, this requires today’s grid structure to be reconceived. Chemistry is involved through materials science, electrochemical and thermodynamic techniques. Article by Emil Roduner, Klaus‐Dieter Franz, Thomas Osterland, Wolfgang Hübinger and Peter Staniek (Energy Transition Think Tank) (Free Access in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/sonnen-und-windenergie-speichern-4143998)
Polymerisation – depolymerisation – polymerisation – almost endlessly: polymers can be chemically recycled again and again. Article by Christian Ehrensberger in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. (Free Access in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/immer-wieder-von-vorn-4140287
Politicians and society are demanding transparent supply chains in order to achieve the United Nations’ sustainability goals. Companies must therefore implement climate protection through measurable action. Article by Jörg Schappel in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/unverzichtbares-wissen-4142019)
Plastic waste is accumulating in the oceans and threatening natural biodiversity worldwide. The search for new methods to break down plastics is now focusing on microorganisms and their enzymes. Article by Michael Groß in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. (Free Access in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/enzyme-gegen-die-plastikflut-4141920
Reusable food packaging and plastic-free clothing promote greater sustainability and recycling in everyday life. In laboratories, single-use plastics cannot always be avoided. But there are ways to keep their quantity small. Article by Purnesh Chattopadhyay, Stella Bodiguel and Juliane Simmchen in Nachrichten aus der Chemie (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/wo-sich-einwegplastik-vermeiden-laesst-4137780)
Some active ingredients in old medicines are too valuable to be disposed of through waste incineration. A working group at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg extracts them and makes them available as chemicals for research and teaching. Article by Markus R. Heinrich in Nachrichten aus der Chemie (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/labor-statt-muellcontainer-4138226)
Article by Joachim von Heimburg, Emil Roduner, Klaus‐Dieter Franz, Wolfgang Huebinger and Thomas Osterland in Nachrichten aus der Chemie. Read the article (Free Access in the GDCh app).
A carbon atom tells of its journeys through plastic applications, inspired by the K 2022 plastics trade fair in Düsseldorf in the autumn. For a while, it was in a yellow sack, as the circular economy was one of the fair’s main themes. To the article by Maren Bulmahn in Nachrichten aus der Chemie (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/als-ich-mal-in-polyamid-existierte-4133070 )
If the chemical industry increasingly uses renewable rather than fossil raw materials as its basis, other synthesis routes are necessary. So far, plant-based chemicals often make up only a small part of the end product. Not everything will be new – but much will. To the article by Christian Ehrensberger in Nachrichten aus der Chemie (Members can access it in the GDCh app at https://gdch.app/article/weniger-ethen-mehr-milchsaeure-4123450)
In July 2022, UNESCO proclaimed the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development. In a position paper, the five major scientific societies representing the life sciences, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics and physics call for greater recognition, better communication and more effective support for basic research in Germany and its importance for sustainable development. Read the press release
Implementing the Chemicals Strategy, with its more than 50 measures, will have far-reaching consequences not only for the chemical industry and the use of chemical products. Researchers in basic research at universities and non-university research institutions will also face new challenges, for example if chemicals or entire classes of substances may be banned in future. This was the subject of the webinar on 15 June 2022.
The contributions on sustainability in the September issue of Nachrichten aus der Chemie have been published as a virtual issue “Sustainability” in the Wiley Online Library.
Article by Detlef Männig in Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Read the article (members can access it via MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20204104036
This joint Online event held by the GDCh and the American Chemical Society (ACS) on 28 October 2020 discussed the role of chemical societies in achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The event is available as a video.
The White Paper Science to enable sustainable plastics summarises the results of the eighth Chemical Sciences and Society Symposium (CS3). Download the complete White Paper as a PDF in English or read the press release in German
Article by Christian Ehrensberger in Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Read the article (members can access it via MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20204095287
Article by Brigitte Osterath in Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Read the article (members can access it via MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20204095088
Article by Thomas Kopel and Hannes Utikal in Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Read the article (members can access it via MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20194084282
Article by Hans‐Jürgen Weyer and Christoph Bott in Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Read the article (members can access it via MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20184075056
Article by Goverdhan Mehta, Stephen A. Matlin, Alain Krief and Henning Hopf in Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Read the article (members can access it via MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20164048006
Since April 2020, the German Chemical Society has published several fact sheets in its Factsheets series, providing generally comprehensible information on relevant subject areas. Read the fact sheet Insect proteins: sustainable nutrition