The inherently innovative nature of chemistry places it at the center of solution-oriented efforts aimed at the widespread adoption of renewable energy. However, within the broader context, anti-environmental side effects, the negative consequences of R&D activities in chemistry, issues that have been overlooked due to the prioritization of sectoral financial gains, and the uncertainty surrounding the reliability and even sustainability of the materials used all necessitate a shift in perspective and paradigm. The fundamental question is: how will this change occur, and where will technological developments fit into this transformation? Developments in the field of chemistry—including solution-oriented approaches to environmentalism and the climate crisis—raise serious concerns not only regarding their benefits to humanity but also regarding their impact on human health, the harm they cause to biodiversity, and their role in environmental pollution and the climate crisis. Technological advancements and digitalization—which have gained momentum over the past century and have become a cornerstone of our time—have led to significant achievements in the field of chemistry, making a substantial contribution to human civilization.
Sustainability goals—which apply to all sectors and are protected by international standards—always encompass organizational changes in the field of chemistry. Raw materials, materials and products produced as solutions to the climate crisis, the reuse of molecules, and the principles governing the production of new molecules constitute specific components of this scope.
Finding chemical innovations and solutions that contribute to sustainability—given the unique complexity of the chemical sector—requires, through technology and digitalization: 1) the use of technology-based decision-support tools suitable for addressing complex problems, and 2) the use of new tools emerging from digitalization, such as artificial intelligence.
The structural transformation of the chemical industry must encompass low-carbon approaches aimed at mitigating the current climate crisis and environmental degradation, while also ensuring the robust protection of human and environmental health. In R&D and investment advancements focused on digitalization and technology for production processes, data transparency and sharing, along with advanced machine learning and big data applications, are new infrastructure components integral to the solution. However, the issue of sustainability still requires sector-specific solutions. It demands a global and universally accepted awareness rather than partial or exceptional efforts. There is an urgent need for solutions that combine traditional chemical practices and expertise in sustainability with innovations in digitalization technologies. These efforts—which cannot be achieved through individual initiatives or by just a handful of organizations—are increasingly highlighting the importance of broader structural changes and institutional collaborations.
Note: This article was prepared by Dr. Musa Şahin based on the approaches outlined in the paper titled “Transition to sustainable chemistry through digitalization,” published by Fantke et al. in the journal *Chemistry* on November 11, 2021.