Green Chemistry

1.0 Scope and Standards 

The scope of Green Chemistry is based on, but not limited to, the definition proposed by Anastas and Warner (Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, P. T. Anastas and J. C. Warner, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1988):

Green chemistry is the utilisation of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products. 

Green Chemistry is at the frontiers of this science and publishes research that attempts to reduce the environmental impact of the chemical enterprise by developing a technology base that is inherently non-toxic to living things and the environment. Submissions on all aspects of research and policy relating to the endeavour are welcome. 

Green Chemistry provides a unique forum for the publication of original and significant cutting-edge research that is likely to be of wide general appeal. All items must be written so as to be widely accessible (conceptually) to chemists and technologists as well as, for example, final year undergraduates. Green Chemistry does not normally deal with research associated with 'end-of-pipe' or remediation issues. Occasionally, the Editorial Board may decide to publish something outside the defined scope of the journal; this will depend on the accompanying letter of justification from the author indicating why a particular paper should be included. Green Chemistry coverage includes:

• The application of innovative technology to establish industrial procedures 
  
• The development of environmentally improved routes and methods to important products 
  
• The design of new, greener and safer chemicals and materials 
  
• The use of sustainable resources 
  
• The use of biotechnology alternatives to chemistry-based solutions 
  
• Methodologies and tools for measuring environmental impact 
  
• Chemical aspects of renewable energy     

All contributions are judged on 
(i) originality and quality of scientific content 
(ii) appropriateness of length to content of new science. 

Please ensure you have adhered to the following guidelines before submission:

• If solvents with a very unfavourable ecological impact are used, or toxic or otherwise potentially harmful reagents or materials are used, authors need to ensure that alternatives have been checked or their use can be justified by other technical reasons. For further information on the use of solvents please refer to: 
  Green chemistry tools to influence a medicinal chemistry and research chemistry based organisation by Kim Alfonsi ,  Juan Colberg ,  Peter J. Dunn et al. Green Chem., 2008, 10, 31-36, DOI: 10.1039/B711717E 
• Provide sufficient information in the manuscript on experimental details and the characterisation of new compounds, detailed guidelines and standards can be found in the RSC author guidelines which should be read in full.
• Applications papers must contain a comparison with existing methods and demonstrate advantages over accepted methods before publication can be considered. 
• Although short articles are considered, the RSC strongly discourages fragmentation of a substantial body of work into a number of short publications. Unnecessary fragmentation will be a valid reason for rejection of manuscripts.
  

2.0 Article types 

2.1 Communications 
These must report preliminary research findings that are highly original, of immediate interest and are likely to have a high impact on the green chemistry community. Communications are given priority treatment, are fast-tracked through the publication process and appear prominently at the front of the journal in a dedicated Communications section. The key aim of Communications is to present innovative chemical concepts with important implications. Authors should provide at the time of submission a short paragraph explaining why their work justifies urgent publication as a Communication. Ideally, a Full Paper in Green Chemistry should follow each Communication. 

2.2 Full Papers 
These must represent a significant development in the particular field and are judged according to originality, quality of scientific content and contribution to existing knowledge. Although there is no page limit for Full Papers, appropriateness of length to content of new science will taken into consideration. 

2.3 Critical and Tutorial Reviews 
These must be a critical evaluation of the existing state of knowledge on a particular facet of green chemistry; however, original work may be included. Simple literature surveys will not be accepted for publication. Potential review writers should contact the Editor before embarking on their work. 

2.4 Perspectives 
These may be articles providing a personal view of part of one discipline associated with Green Chemistry or a philosophical look at a topic of relevance.