A Review of the Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry

The Baker’s Dozen of Green Chemistry Principles

This recently completed blog series was created to guide chemists toward a greener, more sustainable laboratory. Each blog explored one of the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry in more depth. If you missed entries, you can find them all here.

As we wrap up this series, we are taking a step back to reflect on two overarching themes that emerged throughout this experience. Finally, we are taking the opportunity to briefly highlight how SK pharmteco is putting these themes into practice.

Prevention Requires Preparation and Design

Prevention, introduced in our first entry by Berkeley W. Cue, Jr., Ph.D., of BWC Pharma Consulting, LLC, is not just the first principle of green chemistry; it is the most foundational.1 This theme of foresight and planning is also noted in our tenth entry, emphasizing that going beyond standard protocols demands thoughtful preparation. ‘Design’ is defined as doing or planning something with a specific purpose or intention as a goal. In green chemistry, this means designing processes and products that minimize waste and hazards from the outset. Prevention and design are not just principles—they are mindsets that shape every decision in the lab.

Solvents are a Key Issue

As noted in our tenth entry (Design Chemicals and Products to Degrade After Use), solvents are a recurring topic throughout the 12 Principles Series, and for good reason. Solvents are among the most hazardous components in peptide synthesis and other chemical processes.

In our fifth entry, Dr. Concepcíon (Conchita) Jiménez-González, Director of Operational Sustainability at GlaxoSmithKline, noted:

“It has also been shown that solvents account for 50 – 80 percent of the mass in a standard batch chemical operation, depending on whether you include water or you don’t. Moreover, solvents account for about 75% of the cumulative life cycle environmental impacts of a standard batch chemical operation.”¹

Research shows that, on average, producing 1 kg of peptide API may require up to 15 metric tons of solvent, with waste disposal costs reaching billions of dollars annually. Solvents are directly or indirectly addressed in Principles 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, and 12. Clearly, solvent replacement is a critical strategy in green chemistry. For example, using aqueous-based cell culture media or safer cryopreservation solutions can significantly reduce solvent impact in cell and gene therapy production.

SK pharmteco Adheres to These Principles

Over the course of our 12 Principles of Green Chemistry blog series, we have explored how thoughtful design, innovative science, and a commitment to sustainability can transform pharmaceutical manufacturing. SK pharmteco’s technology brings these principles to life, offering practical, scalable, and cost-effective solutions that improve operational efficiency, enhance strategic performance, and reduce environmental impact.

While retrofitting existing manufacturing processes can yield meaningful improvements, the most powerful results come from intentionally designing with green chemistry in mind.

We hope this series has sparked curiosity, inspired new thinking, and encouraged researchers to take their first steps toward greener chemistry. The resources we’ve referenced along the way, along with countless others available online, offer a wealth of guidance for exploring and adopting more sustainable practices.

Building a Sustainable Future for Pharma

As a global CDMO, our responsibility extends beyond meeting project timelines and quality metrics. Our NO HARM strategy reflects our commitment to advancing sustainability in every aspect of development and manufacturing. We engage proactively with our partners, invest in smarter technologies, and empower our teams to lead with purpose.

The path to a sustainable pharmaceutical future is one we must build together, through responsibility, innovation, and daily action. By embracing green chemistry and living our NO HARM values, SK pharmteco is committed to shaping a healthier tomorrow. Every process we improve today brings us one step closer to a cleaner, more sustainable future.