Collaboration

Dialogue process: Developing a common understanding of sustainable chemistry

Developing a common understanding: Dialogue Process 2019 - 2020

The ongoing international debate on sustainable chemistry shows that the expectations towards sustainable chemistry differ between the stakeholder groups. As an international collaborative centre, the ISC3 has therefore initiated a dialogue process to develop a common understanding.

The dialogue was initiated in 2019 based on the ISC3 Thought Starter “Towards a Common Understanding of Sustainable Chemistry”. The dialogue invited all stakeholders to voice opinions and share their expectations towards the emerging concept. Lively discussions took place during the first ISC3 Stakeholder Forum in June 2019. Furthermore, the Thought Starter was introduced to the SAICM stakeholders through an INF doc, which was submitted by the ISC3 to the OEWG in Montevideo, as well as at a workshop at the margins of the IP3 in Bangkok. 

The revised version of the paper “Key Characteristics of Sustainable Chemistry” was presented at the 2nd ISC3 Stakeholder Forum in November 2020. The paper can be downloaded below.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We are looking forward to learning about your ideas, expectations and questions! (contact©isc3.org)

Download the Dialogue Paper “Key Characteristics of Sustainable Chemistry”

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Collaborative Workstreams

The ISC3 connects relevant stakeholders from all sectors enabling them to promote sustainable chemistry easier and faster. Several workstreams will be initiated over the next years inviting all interested parties to join. The workstreams will address topics related to the SDGs as well as crosscutting issues such as: Sustainable Chemistry & Climate Change; Sustainable Chemistry & Building and Living; Sustainable Chemistry & Mobility as well as Circular Economy & Digitalization (Chemistry 4.0) and many more.

The first workstream will highlight “Sustainable Building and Living with Focus on Plastics”. The workstream will run for about one year and will also influence the work of the ISC3 Innovation Hub and Research & Education Hub. In order to prepare a collaborative working process, a pre-study with a thematic screening and strategic recommendations is currently conducted by the ISC3 to explore the challenges and opportunities in this field. Based on the pre-study the ISC3 will initiate a dialogue process to engage with stakeholders from different sectors and develop recommendations on the sustainable management of plastics in buildings and living as well as on potential fields for sustainable chemistry innovation related to this topic. To continuously monitor and support the dialogue process as well as to ensure high-quality results an expert group will be installed. Led by the ISC3, the expert group will incorporate and reflect the different interests and expectations of stakeholders from the private and public sectors as well as from academia and the civil society.

More information on the first collaborative workstream of the ISC3 “Sustainable Building and Living with Focus on Plastics”

Global Scenario Process

Sustainable chemistry is a transformative concept: it requires not only innovative products, it implies far-reaching changes in the chemicals sector and in other industries. Transformative challenges should be met by creating images of possible and desirable futures and by convincing people to believe in them. Through our ability to talk about things that do not exist, we have the power to shape our future and drive change. Imagined realities exert real influence in the real world, when others choose to believe in them and thus act on their implications. To shape the future of sustainable chemistry and the cross-sectoral implications of this new holistic approach, the ISC3 aims to initiate a global scenario process, inviting representatives from all sectors to debate how sustainable chemistry might impact our future:

• What are the societal, economic and political implications of sustainable chemistry?
• In what areas are chemical innovations key to achieving the SDGs?
• What kind of chemical products and chemical production processes do we need to shape a sustainable future?

These and other questions will be addressed in dialogue-based scenarios, with the aim of delivering expert validated outcomes. The dialogue process will provide an opportunity for civil society to voice expectations and concerns, help industry players in the refinement of their strategy and investments, provide input to policy makers in the shaping of regulatory frameworks and instruments, and they should spur further research.

Furthermore, a global scenario process will be a major contribution to the international collaboration on sustainable chemistry and will help to build a new mind-set in the chemicals sector. Developing scenarios in a dialogue process allows the engagement of different stakeholders in constructive conversations. Scenarios are a powerful mechanism to align stakeholders with different perspectives of the same subject towards a common purpose. Moreover, scenarios help to create a far better understanding of what might be by telling a convincing story. In addition, the rigorously researched and carefully constructed stories can also be used as a rich communication tool to tell “the story of sustainable chemistry” to decision makers in the public and private sector.

More information on the global scenario process will be available soon.

International Workshop series in Cooperation with UNEP

To enable dialogue and cooperation and to understand trends, risks and opportunities relevant for sustainable chemistry innovation and the development of the Global Chemicals Outlook II ISC3 and UN Environment organized a series of regional expert workshops (Nairobi, 07.-08.03; Frankfurt, 26.-27.03; Panama City, 12.-13.04; Bangkok, 25.-26.04). The workshops brought together diverse stakeholders from different regions, including innovators and entrepreneurs, policy makers, representatives from civil society and academia. The participants identified and examined regional megatrends and industry sector trends that may create risks and opportunities for chemicals management and sustainable chemistry innovation.

The workshops provided a unique opportunity for experts from different sectors to voice expectations, contribute ideas, and be part of the worldwide dialogue on sustainable chemistry innovation from the very beginning. The workshop results will feed into the GCOII and inform the ISC3 Global Scenario Process to be initiated later in 2018 to identify opportunities for a transition to a more sustainable chemistry. They will also contribute to the ongoing reflections on the future of sustainable chemistry and the role chemicals and chemistry will play in addressing the emerging and future challenges to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.