The Green Chemistry Paradigm as an Epistemological Transformation in Contemporary Chemistry
Keywords:
Chemical Epistemology, Green Chemistry, SustainabilityAbstract
Green chemistry has evolved from a technical principle for designing environmentally friendly chemical processes into an epistemological paradigm reflecting new ways of understanding, producing, and evaluating chemical knowledge within the context of sustainability and moral responsibility for the environment. This study uses a systematic literature review (SLR) approach to scientific articles published in the past five years to examine how green chemistry is not only an operational strategy but also a form of epistemic transformation in chemistry. Thematic analysis of the literature reveals a significant shift in the criteria for the validity of chemical knowledge, where scientific success is increasingly measured by ecological and social impacts, rather than solely reaction efficiency or productivity. Furthermore, green chemistry is also influencing chemistry education, expanding the curriculum structure to incorporate reflective skills and sustainability values, and demanding stronger multidisciplinary engagement. These changes reflect the expanding relationship between chemistry and the global social context, including scientific ethics, educational strategies, and responsible research policies. These findings confirm that green chemistry has gone beyond a technical mechanism for reducing chemical waste and hazards to an epistemological paradigm that integrates values, responsibility, and sustainability into the production and application of chemical knowledge
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Copyright (c) 2025 Andika Sanutra, Élodie Laurent, Nyasha Moyo, Anja Weber (Author)
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