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 to 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
UN race to zero
We have committed to the UN 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
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.
Cleaning up UK drinking water
Join us in calling on the UK Government to overhaul its drinking water PFAS standards.
Our vision for chemicals management
Our vision for chemicals management sets out principles and approaches that should underpin any sound chemicals management system.
Sustainability in the chemistry curriculum
Read our recommendations for a fit-for-purpose sustainability curriculum for chemistry education.
Sustainable polymers in liquid formulations
Charting a course to a more environmentally sound future by transforming materials used to make millions of products.
Chemical waste and pollution
We need a sustainable, globally coordinated approach to chemical waste and pollution to solve the world's major environmental and health challenges.
Science to enable sustainable plastics
Cheap and long-lasting, plastics bring both benefits and problems. How can we keep their usefulness but protect our health and environment?
Recent news and activities
Science and the Parliament returns for 25th edition
27 November 2025
Discover four curated collections on the energy transition
17 November 2025
Call to write to MPs about ‘polluter pays’ principle after woman penalised for coffee dregs
06 November 2025
Sustainable PLFs: Coming together as a whole system
13 October 2025
Solar fuels conference shines a light on progress
08 September 2025
Royal Society of Chemistry joins major collaboration to accelerate sustainable innovation in polymers
10 July 2025
RSC-backed BBC podcast 'Buried' wins major international award
28 May 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
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 a range of inspiring resources on study options, job profiles and different routes to your dream job. Take our careers quiz to find out how you can shape the future. Be inspired by chemical scientists already making a difference to our planet. Start your future in chemistry, end up changing the world!
Relevant events
We hold a range of international in-person and online events, conferences, seminars and webinars throughout the year. You can also watch recordings from some past events. Find out more and sign up to any from the themed selection below:
Contact our sustainable chemistry team
Get in touch with any enquiries about our sustainability work.
Related pages
Discovery 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.
Science culture
Our wide-ranging work to make chemistry more welcoming to everyone.
Education
Everyone deserves an engaging, relevant, high quality, and inspiring chemistry education.