Towards sustainable analytical chemistry

Abstract

Sustainability is often used interchangeably with greenness, narrowly framed using environmental criteria alone. This conflation stems from the inherent conceptual vagueness of sustainability, an attribute that constitutes both its greatest strength and most notable weakness. This contribution discusses important conceptual points and key ideas related to sustainability in analytical chemistry that can serve as the theoretical framework for meaningful interpretation, implementation and evaluation of the concept. Sustainability is discussed using the three interdependent pillars of economy, society, and environment, critiquing reductionist approaches, and advocating for a systems thinking approach to prevent invariably shifting risks elsewhere in the system. It also explores the current perception of sustainability, emphasizing the gap between partial compliance with environmentally sound criteria and the systemic changes needed for genuine sustainability. Advancing the field beyond incremental technical and technological improvements toward systemic change is essential for maintaining the field's relevance in the context of global sustainability efforts.