Green and Sustainable Chemistry/Social Responsibility

by Rami Elias Kremesti M.Sc., CSci, CEnv, CWEM

Introduction

Sadhguru who used to be one of my favourite Hindu gurus until he got too commercial, says that the only business worth your time, the ultimate goal of every business is the business of Human Well-being… From a Judeo-Christian perspective, acquiring the Holy Spirit is the highest goal in life, because without that spirit, you are living a quasi, sub-par life.

On that note:

Below are some topics in green chemistry and sustainable living which we are passionate about:

Click here for a presentation on Environmentally Friendly “Eco” Labels and Social Responsibility.

Eco-friendly Paint. Avoid paints that have VOC’s in them. The automotive and paint industry has shifted to water based paints which is a great step in the right direction.

Eco Friendly Dry-Cleaning – Old laundromats used to use TCE – tri-chloro-ethene to clean clothes. This is a toxic chemical.

Biodegradable biocides in water treatment. Biodegradable Food packaging.

Chemical-Free Cooling Water System Treatment: This is gaining momentum in the UK and has been used for many years in the EU.

Low Phosphate or Phosphate free detergents for laundry. Same applies to water treatment chemicals.

Extracting Phosphate from sewage sludge to be used as fertilizer.

Biofilters for removing odours

Ozone instead of chlorine based disinfectants that create DBPs

Waste water treatment to protect ground water and surface water

Renewable energy: solar, wind, hydro. Look for products that are produced using renewable energy.

Living without plastics which are derived from petrochemicals. Biodegradable plastics. Use paper bags. DECARBONIZE !!!!!

Environmentally friendly dyes for clothing (low impact dyes). Environmentally friendly production processes that use less water like ECOTEX.

Fairtrade cotton, coffee, bananas, diamonds, trace heavy metals for the mobile industry

Sustainable paper industry – Cut a Tree, Plant Ten

Consuming less and inner peace. Death to the World means death of desires for self gratification.

CO2 footprint of travel and transportation. Don’t take far away vacations, discover locally instead.

Always Buy Locally sourced saves gas for shipping.

Fuel efficient cars

Energy efficient appliances

Food additives and Processed Food. Better to eat fresh and additive free food.

The pharmaceutical industry – treating disease with pharmaceuticals. Many spiritual teachers teach that 90% of disease is self created due to lack of spiritual awakening… A lot of diseases, like obesity, are lifestyle diseases that have a root in stress….

Pharmaceuticals in the Water we Drink and in the Rivers. How to remove them: AC Filters and AOPs.

Social Responsibility – Business Must Care about The Society and about individual human beings not just about making money. The new term is conscious capitalism.

Buy second hand – REUSE

Recycle clothing

Eat Less

CFCs and your Fridge or HVAC

Passive House/Minergie – Costs Less Energy to Heat and Cool

Ride a Bicycle: good for your health and good for the environment.

Recycling: metal, plastic, glass, used cooking oil, paper, electronics, light bulbs

Biodiesel – recycling used cooking oil or producing Biodiesel from Algae

Sustainable Building Materials

Carbon Capture and Sequestration – this is the toughest problem for environmental engineering to crack in the 21st century.

Fracking and Pollution

Reduce – Reuse – Recycle – Recover -Redesign – Remember –

Producing chemicals from the sea – Chlor-Alkali Process to produce NaOH, Cl2 and H2 using DC current.

Data Centers that heat districts with their waste heat.

Compiled by Rami E. Kremesti M.Sc., CSci, CWEM, CEnv

UK Chartered Water Treatment Specialist, Environmentalist and Power Station Chemist

Last Updated December 18th, 2025