Sustainability
Chemistry lies at the heart of our transition to a more sustainable future
The scale, complexity and urgency of global sustainability challenges call for ambition, action and partnership. We see growing momentum as chemists around the world – and the schools, universities, companies and other organisations where they work – come together to tackle these challenges.
Chemists model, measure and make the molecules and materials that are integral to everything from food, clean water and medicines to energy. They are collaborating across subfields and sectors, tackling how chemistry can be carried out sustainably as well as contributing to the wider world.
Sustainability is integral to our work: from publishing and education to science and advocacy. This reflects the multitude of ways in which our community contributes to sustainability, and our partnership with our community in developing programmes, products and services to help the chemical sciences make the world a better place.
Read our sustainability strategy
Find out about our understanding of the role of chemistry in sustainability and our plans to drive impact towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
On this page
Our campaigns
Our campaigns cover many sustainability issues, from climate change, energy and plastics to critical raw materials, across research, design, manufacturing, recycling and waste, education and policymaking. Our policy and research reports show the immediate and long-term opportunities for using chemical science to preserve our environment and scarce natural resources.
Sustainability in the chemistry curriculum
Read our recommendations for a fit-for-purpose sustainability curriculum for chemistry education.
Sustainable laboratories
Laboratories are essential to research, analysis and teaching but can be resource and energy intensive. How can we work in a sustainable way?
Circular economy of materials
Join in and ask UK government to outline its plans for the materials driving a sustainable future.
Our vision for chemicals management
Our vision for chemicals management sets out principles and approaches that should underpin any sound chemicals management system.
Cleaning up UK drinking water
Join us in calling on the UK Government to overhaul its drinking water PFAS standards.
Sustainable polymers in liquid formulations
Charting a course to a more environmentally sound future by transforming materials used to make millions of products.
Our race to net zero
We have committed to the United Nations Race to Zero to reduce our net carbon emissions to zero by 2040.
- Our first Net Zero Progress Report has identified the major sources of emissions from our work, our progress to date to reduce them, and plans for the next year
- Our Net Zero Progress Report 2 refines our calculation methods and data in a number of areas and shows our 2022 reductions against the baseline
- Our Net Zero Progress Report 3 is an update on our progress for the period from Quarter three 2022 to Quarter three 2023
- Our Net Zero progress report 4 estimates our emissions for 2024 and reports on progress compared to our 2019 baseline and since 2023
Recent news and activities
See all our sustainability news.JPG?language=en&width=936&resizemode=force&format=webp)
Real‑world chemistry key to better sustainability education
28 April 2026
23 new projects share £200k of RSC Sustainable Labs Grants
22 April 2026
PFAS the focus of 2026 RSC Change Makers accelerator scheme
02 April 2026
Water quality focus of RSC Sustainability essay competition
10 February 2026
RSC sets out ambitious new sustainability strategy
03 February 2026
Discover the must-read research driving the energy transition
17 November 2025
Call to write to MPs about ‘polluter pays’ principle after woman penalised for coffee dregs
06 November 2025
Related journals and books
We publish exceptional, globally impactful research ensuring the provision of energy, protecting our environment for the future and showcasing new sustainable practices, processes and products.
Energy and Environmental Science
Exceptional research to accelerate the global energy transition.
Open Access: Hybrid
EES Batteries
Exceptional research on batteries and energy storage.
Open Access: Gold
EES Catalysis
Exceptional research on energy and environmental catalysis.
Open Access: Gold
EES Solar
Exceptional research on solar energy and photovoltaics.
Open Access: Gold
Green Chemistry
Cutting-edge research for a greener sustainable future.
Open Access: Hybrid
RSC Sustainability
Dedicated to sustainable chemistry and new solutions.
Open Access: Gold
Sustainable Energy and Fuels
The journal for interdisciplinary research for the development of sustainable energy technologies.
Open Access: Hybrid
Sustainable Food Technology
Cultivating sustainable solutions to food processing and engineering.
Open Access: Gold
Books in this series focus on materials, devices and systems in a wide range of sustainable energy topics such as; energy storage/conversion materials and systems, electric vehicles, solar fuels, bioenergy, electrocatalysis and photocatalysis, carbon capture and storage, fuel cells, batteries, supercapacitors and energy grids and networks
Books in this series provide high level research at the cutting-edge of green chemistry. The books are invaluable to industrialists, researchers and academics worldwide and anyone interested in the practical means that are being used to reduce the environmental impact of chemical processes and products.
Books in this series recognise the pivotal role of chemistry in understanding the effects of pollution, climate change and natural processes. The titles deliver up-to-date and critical perspectives on the fate, behaviour and interactions of chemicals and pollutants (both natural and man-made) in the environment.
Issues in Environmental Science and Technology
Books in this series explore key environmental topics alongside wider economic, legal and political issues. Written by experts from industry, public service and academia, they offer essential reading for professionals and students in environmental and chemical sciences.
Our resources
Teaching resources
Inspire your students with how chemistry contributes to a greener, more sustainable future. Find free lesson plans, experiments and activities to explore how chemistry can help us tackle sustainability in our climate change and sustainability resources.
Careers in chemical science
Find inspiring resources on study options, job profiles and see routes to your dream job. Be inspired by chemical scientists who make a difference to our planet. Start your future in chemistry, end up changing the world! Take our careers quiz to find out how.
Sustainable laboratories
Visit our sustainable labs page to read key highlights from our survey and report, learn about the projects we have funded through our Sustainable Laboratories Grants and access resources to support your work in advancing laboratory sustainability.
Relevant events and networking
We hold a range of international in-person and online events, conferences, seminars and webinars throughout the year. Watch recordings from past events or sign up to any from these themed selections:
Support and recognition for those advancing sustainability
We want to empower you to keep learning, progress your career, raise your profile, and maybe even change the world. Royal Society of Chemistry membership can offer you:
- development opportunities
- tailored advice and mentorship
- access to a community that is passionate about shaping a more sustainable world
- professional recognition, for example:
- Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) - recognises the specialist knowledge and work that contributes to mitigating and solving environmental challenges.
- Chartered Chemist (CChem) status recognises commitment to advancing excellence in the chemical sciences, with applicants required to demonstrate how their work contributes to a sustainable future.
Contact our sustainable chemistry team
Get in touch with any enquiries about our sustainability work.
Related pages
Research and innovation
The likely future of where chemistry’s greatest contributions will be – as well as the regulatory and funding environments needed to achieve them.
Policy library
Search and browse our reports, our responses to and position on government policy, evidence and helpful guides
Get involved
Join us in making the world a better place.
Join us
Membership can support you and your colleagues at all stages of your career through our knowledge resources, networking opportunities, and professional development awards. Find out more about our different categories and how you can join our global community
Become an RSC member