The document discusses strategies for launching a green chemistry program at a university. It outlines the 12 principles of green chemistry and identifies key stakeholders to involve. It provides suggestions for choosing an initial campaign, including building on existing issues of interest and choosing projects that can be completed within a year. Examples of potential early campaigns highlighted are mercury thermometer collection, a surplus chemical exchange program, switching labs to non-flammable solvents, and exploring alternatives to HF acid. The document stresses engaging faculty and expanding initiatives over time.

1. Green Chemistry: Strategies to launch a program Megan Murphy, Green Chemistry Intern, LabRATS University of California, Santa Barbara

2. 12 Principles Prevention Prevent waste rather than treat it or clean it up Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention Reduce Waste Atom Economy Reduce Derivatives Use of Renewable Feedstocks Reduce Hazards Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses Designing Safer Chemicals (Minimizing Toxicity) Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries

3. 12 Principles (continued) Catalysis Catalytic reagents (as selective as possible) are superior to stoichiometric reagents. Design for Degradation Real-time analysis for Pollution Prevention

4. Scope Assistance to Researchers Reduction of Unneeded Chemicals Chemical Replacements Curriculum Public Education

5. Who are we? Faculty Graduate Students Research Staff Student Interns And Intern Advisor EHS Hazardous Waste Manager EHS Staff

6. Choosing A Campaign What issues is there already buy in for?

7. Choosing A Campaign What issues is there already buy in for? What campaigns can you launch and succeed at within a year?

8. Choosing A Campaign What issues is there already buy in for? What campaigns can you launch and succeed at within a year? What chemicals make up the majority of waste produced on the campus?

9. Choosing A Campaign What issues is there already buy in for? What campaigns can you launch and succeed at within a year? What chemicals make up the majority of waste produced on the campus? What are the worst chemicals on your campus?

10. Choosing A Campaign What issues is there already buy in for? What campaigns can you launch and succeed at within a year? What chemicals make up the majority of waste produced on the campus? What are the worst chemicals on your campus? What is your team most invested in?

11. Building off existing buy-in Someone on campus already wants tqo see this happen Champions already identified Ties in with goals outside of sustainability (safety, cost, quality, etc..)

12. Room Temperature DNA/RNA Storage Problem Freezer failure and associated degradation of precious samples High energy and financial cost of freezers The Right Time Other campuses initiating pilots High incentive for companies to support pilot programs

13. Room Temperature DNA/RNA Storage Solution Table top storage of samples Technology inspired by nature 4 labs engaged

14. Low Hanging Fruit What campaigns can you launch and succeed at within a year? Easy to accomplish Quick successes Great for publicity in the first few years

15. Low Hanging Fruit Mercury Thermometer Program Surplus Chemical Program

16. Mercury Thermometer Program Problem: Cost Safety

17. Mercury Thermometer Program Collected 806 thermometers and 2 barometers Gave away 387 spirit thermometers Saved up to $40,000 (assuming all collected thermometers would have broken at some point in time.) Total cost: $6,300 including intern support

18. Surplus Chemical Program Website which advertises chemicals 188 chemicals exchanged; 38 labs, 5% of Laboratories on campus Sustainability.ucsb.edu/LARS/programs/adopt

20. Biggest waste stream Often not the “worst” chemicals, but critical due to the scale of the waste stream Affects a large number of laboratories across the campus and has the potential to develop a broad support base

21. Flammable Solvents Problem 35 tons/yr of flammable solvents treated as waste Nearly $44,000 spent to dispose of solvent waste Solution Switch labs over to solvent free processes where possible

22. Worst Chemicals Only applicable to a relatively small subset of laboratories Risk of not being successful Try combining campaigns where you know you’ll be successful and riskier ones run simultaneously

23. HF Acid Strong support from faculty who would prefer an alternative Safety and Sustainability motivations High potential for no alternative to be found, but important to ask the question Great learning opportunity for student interns performing the research

24. Team or Personal commitment A campaign you or your team is strongly invested in that might be harder to achieve or require long-term planning

25. Curriculum Development Honors courses as a testing ground Step 1: Identify courses that use a chemical you want to replace Step 2: Identify a potential alternative (MIT Green Purchasing Wizard, great start) Step 3: Test alternative in honors class and use the rest of the class as a control

26. Curriculum Development K-12 Outreach Developing 12 lesson plans for the 12 principles of Green Chemistry Centered on 5 th grade audience because existing chemistry outreach programs are focused on 5 th grade

27. Expanding to larger scale Bring in the experts Utilize every opportunity to develop support of Chairs, Deans, and administration Engage faculty

28. The Challenge We challenge you to take on the issue

29. Questions? Please Contact our group at: (805)893-2003 Or [email_address]