12 Principles of Green Chemistry - As developed by Paul Anastas and John Warner

1. Prevention – It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it has been created.

2. Atom Economy – Design synthetic methods to maximize the incorporation of all materials used in the process into the final product.

3. Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses – Design chemical processes to use and generate substances that minimize toxicity to humans and the environment.

4. Designing Safer Chemicals – Chemical products should be designed to be effective while minimizing toxicity.

5. Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries – Use safer or non-toxic solvents and auxiliary substances whenever possible.

6. Design for Energy Efficiency – Minimize energy requirements in chemical processes, using ambient temperature and pressure when possible.

7. Use of Renewable Feedstocks – Use renewable raw materials or feedstocks rather than depleting finite resources.

8. Reduce Derivatives – Avoid unnecessary derivatization (modify molecules requiring additional reagents and generating waste).

9. Catalysis – Use catalytic reactions instead of stoichiometric ones to reduce waste and improve efficiency.

10. Design for Degradation – Design chemical products so they break down into innocuous substances after use, preventing environmental accumulation.

11. Real-time Analysis for Pollution Prevention – Develop real-time, in-process monitoring and control to minimize hazardous byproducts.

12. Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention – Design processes and chemicals to minimize the potential for chemical accidents, including explosions, fires, and releases.