McGill Department of Chemistry signs the Green Chemistry Commitment
The McGill University Department of Chemistry has signed the Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) from Beyond Benign, an organization that develops and disseminates green chemistry and sustainable science educational resources that empower educators, students, and the community at large to practice sustainability through chemistry.
The signing of the pledge was announced on March 13, 2023 during a CCVC Seminar by John Warner, one of the cofounders of the field of green chemistry. A presentation on the many efforts in green chemistry already underway at McGill given by Audrey Moores, Danielle Vlaho, and Jasmine Hong and a celebration of McGill's commitment to the GCC followed the talk.
The GCC intends to make sure principles of green chemistry are included and amplified throughout the curriculum, allowing all students who pass through the Department of Chemistry the opportunity to obtain knowledge of the ideas and implementations of green chemistry. McGill has already been recognized as a leader in green chemistry, and the Department already fulfills most of the requirements stipulated in the GCC; signing the pledge will assure that these practices continue to be at the forefront of chemistry studies at McGill.
"McGill has been committed to developing green chemistry for over 25 years now. We have pioneered green chemistry teaching, research and leadership," said Moores, Professor in the Department of Chemistry. "When I travel to meet colleagues I’m often reminded about the role McGill has played in this community. It’s this an immense pleasure for us to be now officially part of the green chemistry commitment of Beyond Benign."
Green chemistry – which aims to minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances, and instead develops safer chemicals and more sustainable industrial processes – has become an increasingly relevant topic in recent years. Signing the GCC demonstrates McGill's commitment to sustainable practices and innovation of the highest degree moving forward.