Worcester Polytechnic Institute Digital WPI Interactive Qualifying Projects (All Years) Interactive Qualifying Projects March 2006 Developing a Strategy for Integrating Green Chemistry in Thailand Amanda N. McCullough Worcester Polytechnic Institute Erica Leigh Moore Worcester Polytechnic Institute Gregor M. Kevrekian Worcester Polytechnic Institute Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/iqp-all Repository Citation McCullough, A. N., Moore, E. L., & Kevrekian, G. M. (2006). Developing a Strategy for Integrating Green Chemistry in Thailand. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/iqp-all/2584 This Unrestricted is brought to you for free and open access by the Interactive Qualifying Projects at Digital WPI. It has been accepted for inclusion in Interactive Qualifying Projects (All Years) by an authorized administrator of Digital WPI. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Project Number: JRK C061 DEVELOPING A STRATEGY FOR INTEGRATING GREEN CHEMISTRY IN THAILAND An Interactive Qualifying Project Report submitted to the Faculty of the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science By ____________________ __________________ Gregor Kevrekian Amanda McCullough ____________________ Erica Moore Date: March 2, 2006 _______________________________ Professor Robert Krueger, Major Advisor _______________________________ Professor Seth Tuler, Major Advisor EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recent industrialization and growth of the chemical industry in Thailand has led to severe environmental degradation (Iwami, 2001). Each year, 1.7 million tons of hazardous waste are generated in Thailand and 78% of this waste comes from industry (NRC-EHWM, 2005). This figure may be even higher since Thailand lacks a systematic way to inventory chemicals and hazardous waste (Kamolsiripichaiporn, 2006). Motivated by the need for long-term solutions to this growing problem of hazardous waste and toxic chemicals use, a new strategy to solve this problem has gained widespread recognition. It relies on a fundamental redesign of chemical reactions and processes for every type of application, and marks a conceptual revolution in the discipline of chemistry (Hutchison & Doxee, 2004). This approach is called “green chemistry.” As defined by Dr. Paul Anastas and Dr. John Warner (1998), green chemistry is “the utilization of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products” (p. 11). The goal of this project was to make recommendations for establishing a successful green chemistry network in Thailand and to design a workshop that would initiate this process. To achieve our project goal, we established three main research objectives: 1. To determine common elements of successful networks that incorporate government, industry, and academia to promote environmental change 2. To identify and recommend phases necessary in establishing a green chemistry network in Thailand 3. To design a workshop which will contribute to the first phase of creating a green chemistry network in Thailand In order to complete these objectives, we gathered information via interviews and archival research. We interviewed founders of current successful environmentally conscious networks to gain an understanding of the factors that have contributed to their success. Additionally, we interviewed chemistry professors at Chulalongkorn University to gain understanding of student and faculty interest in and knowledge of green chemistry. We also interviewed green chemistry experts in order to gain further knowledge of successful green chemistry workshops. Finally, archival research was conducted on environmentally conscious networks, as well as on logistical details to designing a successful workshop. Key Elements of Successful Networks We found six key elements common to existing successful networks. They were: 1. Communication 2. Education 3. Academia Involvement 4. Industrial Involvement 5. Government Involvement 6. Core Group of Leader These elements were common themes between the successful networks we analyzed. 1. Communication between academia, industries, and government is a key element of successful networks. In order to achieve their missions and goals of increasing communication, networks provide activities and conferences for their members. The Greening of Industry Network (2006) - 1 - “provides an open forum for creative debate to engage researchers, business, workers, government, consumers and other actors in developing a shared understanding of the changes required for creating a more sustainable future.” The Green Chemistry Institute (2006) “hosts conferences and coordinates efforts with an international network of green chemistry advocates” to increase communication about green chemistry on a global scale in order to work towards their mission of increasing green chemistry knowledge and use. 2. Successful networks use education as a way to teach the public and network members about the ideals they represent The Green Chemistry Institute (2006) supplies information to “increase awareness and understanding of Green Chemistry principles, alternatives, practices, and their benefits within traditional educational institutions, and among practicing chemists and other scientists.” Six out of the seven networks we researched used publications or their own journal to educate others about the recent activities of the network. For example, the Greening of Industry Network (2006) uses publication series in order to “extend the reach of the research and dialogue of our convenings.” 3. Networks incorporate the involvement of academia as a way to further research of the ideals of the network Dr. Kurt Fischer (2006) stated the importance of incorporating universities in the network as: “There job is to connect to the world. Sometimes current research is seen as irrelevant to university teachings, the network is trying to remedy this by incorporating them in it.” About half of the members of the Greening of Industry Network are from universities which include faculty and graduate students (Fischer, 2006). One of the primary objectives of the Green Chemistry Institute (2006) is “to advance research in Green Chemistry by promoting funding, increasing opportunities, and developing information on the benefits of green chemistry.” Incorporating academia into the network helps to advance research on green chemistry and to develop further information on the societal benefits of green chemistry. GCI (2006) specifically includes members from academia on their advisory board. 4. Including industries in the network serves as a way to implement the ideals presented by the network in industrial processes. Although networks incorporate involvement from many different sectors, industries typically can have the largest impact in making changes to their processes because they are currently the main producers of waste. Dr. Kurt Fischer (2006) from the Greening of Industry Network stated, “Industrial developments are the biggest influences on environmental change these days.” Each of the networks we researched had strong industrial membership. The Green Chemistry Institute (2006) includes industries as a way to increase “industrial implementation of green chemistry.” 5. Government support and involvement is used to motivate further research and practices of the network ideals. Many networks are sponsored by governments, or include policy makers as an influential sector of their organization. The Green Chemistry Institute (2006) was formed through the - 2 - United States Environmental Protection Agency. About 20 % of the members of the Greening of Industry Network are governmental in nature (Fischer, 2006). 6. A core group of leaders maintains organization and manages communication of the network Each of the networks we researched had some form of a core group of leaders. The formal name of these leaders varies between networks. Common names included: “steering committee”, “governing board”, “board of directors”, or “management team.” Regardless of the name, each of these boards serves the same purpose, which is to maintain the network and keep all members informed of its activities. Dr. Kurt Fischer (2006) stated that he started the Greening of Industry Network by “finding a small core of people with mutual interests who were willing to work on it because it was a part of their life goals or jobs.” Dr. Paul Anastas (2006) stated that it was important to bring the people interested together in order to raise public awareness. Phases in Establishing a Green Chemistry Network We used our findings of the key elements listed above to recommended four phases of action necessary to establish a green chemistry network in Thailand. In this context, we defined a network as: an organized infrastructure for collaboration and sharing of ideas and technologies among educational institutions, government and industry for the purpose of facilitating the use of environmentally benign industrial processes. We recommended four phases of action designed especially for use at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. We also recommended specific actions that can be taken within each phase. The four phases are: 1) Expand interest in green chemistry 2) Form a core group of researchers 3) Reach out to industry 4) Gain support from government Below we provide an in depth description of our recommended phases. Recommendation: Phase 1 should