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Industrial Perspectives in RSC Sustainability

14 Aug 2026
By .

Research and innovation across the pharmaceutical, petrochemical, consumer products, and commodity chemicals sectors are essential to advancing more sustainable industrial operations. This collection provides a platform for organisations across these sectors to showcase their sustainability agendas, share their green and sustainable chemistry strategies and outline their long-term sustainability vision for their companies and for the future of the industry. Through Perspective articles written from the viewpoint of individuals or companies, the collection aims to stimulate dialogue, inspire best practice, and identify opportunities and challenges in the transition towards more sustainable industrial operations. Guest edited by Gary Walker (Lubrizol, UK), Paul Price (Unilever, UK), Jon Deeley (Ineos, UK) and Lei Wang (Westlake University, China), this collection brings together perspectives from across the industry to explore the approaches and strategies shaping a more sustainable future. Please enjoy the articles in the collection below.

Transforming the chemical industry: a BASF perspective on net-zero and circularity

Bernhard von Vacano*, Wolfgang Hübinger, Willis Muganda, Grigorios Kolios, Talke Schaffrannek, Alois Kindler, Kai Ehrhard, Markus Weber*

RSC Sustainability (2026) 4 (3): 1304–1326, DOI: 10.1039/d5su00825e

 The shift of the industry to non-fossil feedstocks and CO2 emission neutrality is a big task. From a BASF view, long term strategy, technology and economic pathways are discussed, to deliver on the necessary green transformation of the economy.
The Pfizer green chemistry team on its 25th anniversary, highlights key areas of focus from discovery to manufacturing waste treatment within our small molecule portfolio. Sustainable chemistry in pharma: Pfizer green chemistry team’s perspective

Christophe Allais*, Seda Arat; Juan Colberg; David F. Fernández, María González-Esguevillas, Rajesh Kumar, Johnny W. Lee, Jovan Livada, Chase Mack, Jared L. Piper, Philipp C. Roosen, Lauren C. Scott, Paul Richardson*

RSC Sustainability (2026) 4 (7): 2867–2892, DOI: 10.1039/d5su00761e
How deep eutectic solvents are currently shaping organocatalytic and enzymatic asymmetric catalysis

Anthony J. Burke*, Elisabete P. Carreiro, Hans-Jürgen Federsel*

RSC Sustainability (2025) 3 (9): 3883–3890, DOI: 10.1039/ d5su00265f

 

 Asymmetric catalysis is a key technology that provides enantiomerically pure compounds that are vital for the pharmaceutical, agrochemical and food and fragrance industries.
The environmental persistence of polymers in liquid formulations (PLFs) can present a significant challenge for sustainability, particularly given their widespread use and limited post-use recovery. Beyond the guidelines: rethinking OECD biodegradability testing for polymers in liquid formulations 

Frank Stott, Edisa García Hernández, Jessica Staniland*, Amy Goddard, Sarah Davidson, Ian Tooley

RSC Sustainability (2026) 4 (3): 1332–1345, DOI: 10.1039/d5su00669d
Change of tides in European chemical legislation. A turning point in European chemicals policy: reconciling green ambitions with the viability of the manufacturing sector in Europe

Éva Ujaczki and Jan Backmann.
RSC Sustainability (2026) 4 (2): 720–725, DOI: 10.1039/d5su00746a

 The EU's strict post-2006 REACH chemical control is debated: a point of pride or a barrier to competitiveness due to overregulation. The European Commission supports the latter. This paper informs researchers on the political process and its impact. Image generated using Google Gemini.
SSbD principles highlight a fraction of the big picture. Industry already embeds these principles within a wider framework. Industrial operationalisation of safe-and-sustainable-by-design from business case to launch 

Ayse Ay, Roberto Chinchilla, Tobias Moss, Joséphine Munsch, Catherine Colin, Carla Caldeira, Pierre-Emmanuel Dufils, Timo Melchin, Eva Hahn, Wendel Wohlleben

RSC Sustainability (2026) 4 (4): 1792–1807, DOI: 10.1039/d5su00666j