Various chemistry events focusing on sustainability were organised this month. As an important contributor to this topic, the European Chemical Society took part in the discussion on green and sustainable chemistry by participating in two major events: the first “Global Sustainable Chemistry Week” and the “6^th Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference”.

1^st Global Sustainable Chemistry Week

On 12 November, Nineta Hrastelj, EuChemS Secretary General, joined a panel discussion on the EU Chemicals Strategy on Sustainability during the first “Global Sustainable Chemistry Week” – organised by the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC₃).

Nineta Hrastelj addressed four major points from the EU Chemicals Strategy on Sustainability: the challenges towards its harmonised implementation across the EU, the importance of strengthening science-policy discussion, also at the regional level, the need for the EU’s strategic independence, and the crucial role of education. She concluded her presentation on the opportunities offered by the EU Chemicals Strategy on Sustainability, including how it can enable EU citizens to better understand the role of science in their everyday life.

6^th Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference

On 16 November, Floris Rutjes, EuChemS President, gave an opening address at the 6^th Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference organised by Elsevier.

During his talk, he presented the main activities that EuChemS is involved in relating to green and sustainable chemistry, which include:

• EuChemS joining the European Commission’s High Level Roundtable on the implementation of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability;
• the many EuChemS replies to the European Commission public consultations related to sustainable chemistry;
• the recent updates made to the EuChemS Periodic Table.

In addition, he discussed the role Chemistry plays in the UN 17 SDGs.