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Safer Stuff: Green Chemistry Gets Down to Business

Safer Stuff: Green Chemistry Gets Down to Business
Contributors
Executive Producer of the documentary, Safer Stuff: Green Chemistry Gets Down to Business
Learning Objets
Summary
This resource is an introduction to green chemistry and is episode 1 of a 7 episode documentary series, Safer Stuff: Green Chemistry Gets Down to Business, which is an upbeat exploration of solutions to the problem of toxic chemicals in everyday products and the part green chemistry plays.

The inspiring story of green chemistry is told through interviews with the originators of the field (Paul Anastas and John Warner), current researchers, young entrepreneurs and graduate students who are embracing green chemistry today.

Upcoming episodes focus on solutions already in the market place such as biodegradable bioplastics, benign pesticide alternatives, cosmetics that don't contain endocrine disruptors, and new ways to make cement that reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Educators, company sustainability officers and green investment company CEO’s also explore the complex issues behind replacing oil-based products and toxic chemicals, with products that are safe for humans and the environment. Consumer choice, as evidenced by the younger generation’s demand for safer cosmetics, is one of the key drivers for safer products.

This documentary series aims to raise awareness of green chemistry and the integral part it plays in helping to create a more sustainable future.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.59877/PYAV5992
Learning Goals/Student Objectives
This film introduces students to green chemistry, through interviews with John Warner and Paul Anastas, founders of green chemistry and to the 12 principles of green chemistry.

The goal is for students to be exposed, for perhaps the first time, to solutions to different kinds of environmental pollution such as green chemists and entrepreneurs who are replacing toxic solvents with water, plastics with bioplastics made from greenhouse gases, pesticides with non-toxic pheromones, and creating cosmetics from food waste.
Object Type
Videos (e.g., tutorials, presentations)
Audience
Middle School
High School (Secondary School)
Introductory Undergraduate
Common pedagogies covered
Context-based learning
Green Chemistry Principles
Waste Prevention
Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses
Designing Safer Chemicals
Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries
Use of Renewable Feedstocks
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Good Health and Well-Being
Clean Water and Sanitation
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Life Below Water
Safety Precautions, Hazards, and Risk Assessment
N/A
NGSS Standards, if applicable
K-ESS3-3 Earth and Human Activity, 1-LS1-1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes, 5-ESS3-1 Earth and Human Activity, HS-LS2-7 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics, HS-ESS3-3 Earth and Human Activity, HS-ESS3-4 Earth and Human Activity

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Moderation state
Published
Time required (if applicable)
12.5 minutes