There is growing awareness in the process industries of the importance of responsible production – efficient use of energy and resources, sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to basic services, decent jobs, and a better quality of life for all.

IChemE has made significant contributions that address UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. This article showcases ten recent, relevant IChemE outputs.

Learn more about the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.

Frances Arnold believes that younger generations are driven by a desire to better the world. To inspire their interest in engineering, she notes that it's essential to showcase how the field directly benefits people and the planet, beyond just profits.

Arnold sees room for engineering education to tap into collaborative and problem-solving aspects of work that young people seek. She stresses the need for educational approaches that prepare students for a world where teamwork is core to addressing significant issues.

Read the full feature in The Chemical Engineer: A Cleaner, Greener Future: ‘We are Key, and we are Responsible’.

This technology can be used without modifying existing dyehouse equipment and offers advantages over synthetic dyeing methods, especially in terms of water use and reuse.

The engineers interviewed emphasise the positive contribution that chemical engineers can make in developing sustainable technologies for dyeing and treatment of associated wastewater.

Read the article in The Chemical Engineer: Materials: Making a Positive Difference.

The report identifies the most beneficial applications of hydrogen in a low-carbon energy system, and the most promising technologies for hydrogen production – electrolysis, using renewable energy.

The analysis leads to recommendations for policy development in the short and medium term. Recommendations include investment to demonstrate technologies and accelerate their development, setting up enabling business models, implementing a roadmap for strategically deploying hydrogen, and creating and upholding standards focused on safety and the overall value chain of hydrogen generated using renewable energy.

Read the full National Engineering Policy Centre report: The role of hydrogen in a net zero energy system.

The authors emphasise the role of consumer willingness, design and durability of containers intended for reuse, and appropriate infrastructure.

Specifically, they emphasise that reusable packaging systems can reduce waste significantly and highlight the broader environmental impacts of single-use packaging. They find that, after just two to four uses, refill and return systems using plastic containers for take-away food have a lower global warming potential than single-use plastic containers.

The paper also finds that familiarity with reuse systems and appropriate use of language and terms used to describe them can positively influence consumer behaviour.

Two articles about the problem of PFAS were published in The Chemical Engineer magazine in 2022. In 'Bidding Farewell to the Forever Chemicals', Paul Stevenson discusses the delays in regulatory responses to production and use of PFAS and reducing PFAS contamination of the environment, including drinking water. The article provides an overview of technologies for removing PFAS from water but notes that technologies for destroying PFAS are immature. Stevenson emphasises the role of chemical engineers in developing effective solutions.

A later article discusses the findings of research published in Science in August 2022 on a chemical destruction method that converts PFAS into smaller, less hazardous compounds. The method is deemed promising, but requires further work to allow its implementation at practical concentrations, temperatures, residence times and scales.

The hub focuses on four of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 3: Promote Good Health and Well-Being
• SDG 6: Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation
• SDG 7: Access to Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 12: Responsible Production and Consumption

The Hub’s training courses, case studies, and information on the UN SDGs explain the challenges of sustainable production and support chemical engineers’ development of skills to address these challenges.

IChemE will continue to provide members with free content on the Sustainability Hub until the end of 2025.

The insightful literature review 'How the combination of Circular Economy and Industry 4.0 can contribute towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals' by Dantas and co-authors explores synergies between Industry 4.0 and the Circular Economy (CE). The authors highlight how the integration of digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data, when combined with CE principles, can address multiple SDGs, including SDG 12.

Together, these outputs demonstrate some diverse and innovative ways that chemical engineers can contribute to responsible production and consumption.

Read IChemE’s blog post highlighting other ways chemical engineers address the SDGs: Centenary blog: Spotlight on sustainability and environment.

The authors propose a value framework for a sustainable circular economy that provides the foundations for evaluation of specific circular economy practices.

Ten principles for a sustainable circular economy are set out; these apply whole-system approaches and assessments, foster sustainable solutions through innovation, phase out unsustainable practices and reward circular practices more than resource-intensive practices. The paper recommends that the values and principles are used by stakeholders in society to design, implement and evaluate a sustainable circular economy.

The need to fully integrate the social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development into circular economy is emphasised.

A key benefit of chemical looping is that it eliminates the need for the energy-intensive air separation unit typically required for gasification. Chemical looping offers process intensification, reduced capital, and operating expenses. For example, biomass residues can be gasified without extensive pre-treatment.

The authors outline the potential of chemical looping schemes for a variety of applications, highlighting potential reductions in energy losses and facilitation of reactions. To date, large-scale demonstration of the technology is lacking.

The authors emphasise that stimulating scientific development of the concept, with a view to mitigate climate change, will require government intervention.

Meanwhile, in Australia, IChemE responded to the government's Critical Minerals Strategy, highlighting the significance of these minerals in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. 

The response stresses that strategic development of this sector can bolster economic growth, create jobs, and further Australia's climate change objectives. Additionally, IChemE provided feedback on Australia's Low Emissions Technology Statements 2021 (LETS), emphasising the role of chemical engineering in hydrogen production and in carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, as well as in other areas, to lower emissions. IChemE underscores the need for detailed planning, research, and collaboration between governments, industry, and academia to achieve global sustainability goals.

If you have been inspired by these summaries, you can find out more in our journal Sustainable Production and Consumption. The monthly IChemE CPD Bulletin email also provides invites you to attend upcoming webinars and events, many of which relate directly to responsible production.