Green Chemistry Highlighted During International Symposium on Chromatography

John Warner closed out the third day of the International Symposium on Chromatography delivering a plenary lecture on green chemistry.

John Warner concluded the third day of the 34th International Symposium on Chromatography in Liverpool, U.K. with a plenary lecture on green chemistry, emphasizing the need for new separation and purification technologies to handle the complexities of emerging, sustainable materials.

Warner highlighted how the inherent variability of natural substances requires rethinking traditional chemical processes. Addressing these challenges is essential for achieving sustainability in chemical production, as conventional methods often fall short when applied to bio-based and recycled materials on a larger scale.

Recognized as one of the pioneers of the green chemistry movement, Warner co-authored the seminal book Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice and has served on the boards of several major organizations, including Dow Chemical Company, Nike, Levis, and Biogen. He also advises global initiatives such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the World Economic Forum Circulars, and his inventions have formed the foundation of six companies, including Ambient Photonics and the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry.

During his lecture on October 8, Warner underscored the pivotal role of separation science in advancing green chemistry. Green chemistry, broadly defined, involves a set of principles that aim to reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture, and application of chemical products.

“There is a pathological pragmatism to green chemistry. We can’t do it just by wanting to; we must teach the next generation,” Warner said. “None of this can happen without the invention of new sustainable separation technologies.”

Warner emphasized the importance of the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry as a research and development (R&D) framework that scientists should apply throughout the entire R&D process to promote sustainability. He highlighted the challenges that have stifled progress in the field, pointing issues in both industry and academia over the last few decades.

“Academia has fallen in love with the metrics of publication. Simultaneously, industry is cutting R&D due to cost considerations over the last couple of decades,” he explained. “We have all this peer review, all this evaluation. The only way you can get funding for something is if you can convince the funder it’s going to work. That is the exact opposite of innovation.”

Warner warned that the path to a greener future will not be straightforward. Traditionally, chemical syntheses have been designed to simplify separation processes, making it possible to achieve similar yields at both the bench and large-scale production. However, as the field moves toward more sustainable chemical processes, these conventional techniques are proving inadequate for the unique complexities of bio-based and recycled materials.

Warner outlined four key drivers of innovation: strong leadership with a clear vision, technical competency and experience, robust infrastructure, and a culture of collaboration. He emphasized that even the best-laid plans can go awry, making it essential for scientists to remain adaptable and flexible at every stage.

Ultimately, Warner stressed that sustainable solutions must be economically viable for businesses to adopt them at scale. Without a clear link to profitability, green technologies are unlikely to see widespread implementation.

“The approach here is not to look at sustainability as a pill we have to take, but an opportunity to increase sales and profits by helping the world become a better place,” he said. “There’s no magic green button—we can’t snap our fingers and do this tomorrow. It’s going to take a long time. We must reinvent all of this.”