Photos by event photographer Gerald Schmidt
A growing green chemistry ecosystem is taking root in Germany, where Berlin’s three largest universities have signed on to Beyond Benign’s Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) and its framework for sustainable, lasting change. Following the lead of Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin), which signed the GCC in 2021, Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin) became GCC signers in October 2023.
Along with signing the GCC, these three universities have joined forces with 26 partners in industry, science, and government to form the greenCHEM project — an inspiring initiative to bring green chemistry innovation to the region. The greenCHEM project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research for up to nine years with 10 million euros. TU Berlin is also gearing up for its new green chemistry transfer center, “Chemical Invention Factory – John Warner Center for Start-ups in Green Chemistry” (CIF). Construction on this building (named after Beyond Benign’s co-founder, who is also a co-founder of green chemistry) is set to begin in 2025.
To celebrate these steps forward, TU Berlin hosted a special GCC signing event for its fellow Berlin universities during the greenCHEM kickoff in October 2023. John Warner attended the celebration, along with numerous stakeholders who are championing green chemistry in Germany. These leaders included Martin Rahmel, coordinator of the greenCHEM project and director of the CIF at TU Berlin; Christoph Tzschucke, Chemistry Professor at FU Berlin; and Nikki Man Post-Doc in Chemistry Education at HU Berlin. As a champion of the GCC in Berlin, Rahmel sees the importance of teaching green chemistry to young students so they are better prepared to implement it later in life. “This broad interest shows that green chemistry is on the upslope in Germany, so anchoring it in the curriculum at an early stage is a must,” Rahmel said.
Beyond Benign reached out to Rahmel, Tzschucke, and Man after the event to get their thoughts on the GCC, the promise of the greenCHEM project, and the power of community in advancing sustainable and innovative practices. Below, read how these see green chemistry education playing a critical role in industrial innovation for the region’s future.
Can you tell us about the special event hosted by your institution to help other institutions sign the GCC pledge?
Rahmel (TU Berlin): The Institute of Chemistry at Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) was the first European institution to sign the GCC. We shared our positive experiences with our Berlin partner universities Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin), who recognized the importance and opportunities offered by the GCC. Together we decided to hold the signing ceremony at our special kickoff event of our joint project greenCHEM, which aims to create an innovation ecosystem in green chemistry with six target areas, one being education. Berlin is aware of its responsibility for creating a culture of innovation to foster necessary change, also in the field of chemistry education, so having the biggest three universities in Berlin having signed the GCC is the logical consequence.
Who attended the event, and what does this say about the state of green chemistry in Germany?
Rahmel (TU Berlin): More people registered for the event than could fit in the room, but we made sure that there were participants from every stakeholder group of such an innovation ecosystem. Hence, students, doctoral candidates, professors, start-ups, industry representatives, and politicians were present at the event. The GCC was ceremonially signed by the Director of the Chemistry Institute of the FU Berlin and the Director of the Chemistry Institute as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the HU Berlin.
Why did your institution decide to sign the GCC?
Tzschucke (FU Berlin): The idea of joining the GCC first came up during discussions with students at the chemistry department of Freie Universität Berlin. At the time, we were seeking to integrate sustainability and related topics into our chemistry curricula in a more systematic fashion than before. We realized that connecting to a green chemistry-focused community would help us and provide valuable additional teaching resources. Signing the GCC was then a good opportunity to demonstrate Freie Universität’s commitment to integrating the ideas of sustainability and green chemistry into our curriculum, research endeavors, and institutional practices.
Man (HU Berlin): Signing the GCC was perfectly aligned with Humboldt University’s commitment to the protection of natural resources in its environmental guidelines, which was pledged in 2005. Since then, initiatives such as the student-powered Sustainability Office and Sustainability & Global Justice scholarships group keep the momentum going. The university is aiming toward a climate-neutral campus by 2030 — talk about setting the bar high for environmental leadership! The Institute of Chemistry is already a thriving hub for green innovations, brewing up solutions like new photocatalysts, biocatalytic methods, and organic materials (to name but a few!). Joining the GCC was a natural fit, boosting our efforts to weave green chemistry into our curriculum.
What does it mean for your institution to be a signer?
Tzschucke (FU Berlin): Like most academic institutions, Freie Universität Berlin has long recognized the pressing need for innovative solutions to address global environmental challenges, particularly in the field of chemistry. By signing the GCC, we want to increase the visibility of our efforts to contribute to the advancement of green chemistry practices both locally and globally. Through our participation in the GCC, we aim to inspire our students and encourage our faculty to embrace sustainable approaches in their work.
Man (HU Berlin): Not only is the GCC like a green thumbs-up club for universities that want to do and teach chemistry in a more sustainable way than its current state in the majority of the chemical industry, what’s more important is that it is also a gateway to tangible actions. As we’re training chemists and chemistry teachers, moving toward a more sustainability-minded curriculum will equip our students to embrace and learn cutting-edge green chemistry skills and practices, strengthen our research with a sustainability focus, and position us as a leader in this field. It’s a win-win for the planet and our academic excellence.
What are the next steps for your institution now that you’ve signed the GCC?
Tzschucke (FU Berlin): We are currently integrating new teaching modules on sustainability and green chemistry in our chemistry bachelor’s and master’s programs. However, green chemistry is a strongly application-oriented field and becomes meaningful only through interaction with the players in the “real world.” Therefore, we also aim to develop teaching modules for other study programs, such as business administration or economics, to support the transfer of green chemistry ideas from research to industrial applications.
Man (HU Berlin): One of our first steps will be to equip future chemistry teachers with practical (and hopefully captivating!) modules that seamlessly integrate green chemistry principles into their curriculum. This goes beyond memorizing formulas and processes — think engaging experiments, real-world applications, and other methods that empower students to become passionate advocates for green chemistry!
What kind of support have you received from the green chemistry community as a signer?
Rahmel (TU Berlin): The green chemistry community is incredibly open-minded and supportive. We have been able to learn a lot regarding alternative study programs and teaching materials. Our Masters course “Green Chemistry” profited a lot. But as a good community member, we are also giving back by sharing those parts of lecture materials that were created “in-house.” Another great thing is the introduction of a Micro Credential (MC) called “Sustainable Entrepreneurship” at the TU Berlin. As a new concept in the European Union, MCs are not yet common, but the interaction with the international community has encouraged us to offer our students an additional degree with a focus on green chemistry. We are working to expand this MC to all three universities, and I hope to share some great news soon.
Can you share any success stories or case studies demonstrating the impact of green chemistry practices at TU Berlin?
Rahmel (TU Berlin): A great success story that I am involved in myself is greenCHEM. As mentioned, it’s not just about teaching and education, but the goal is fostering green chemistry innovation in further target areas (teaching, research, start-ups, industry, and society). This innovation ecosystem, which involves all stakeholders, is growing fast and is full of incredibly motivated partners. We regularly use the Beyond Benign network to get feedback from the green chemistry community, share our experiences and support where we can.
How do you hope the GCC community evolves in the coming years?
Rahmel (TU Berlin): Personally, I can’t understand why not every chemical institute in the world is part of the community yet. This is where community and the future are lived. Every university can only benefit from being part of this agile, motivated network. I strongly believe that more people will realize this truth in the next few years so that the Beyond Benign goal of 25 x 25 will have to be adjusted toward 50 x 30.
What do you think is the future of green chemistry in Germany?
Tzschucke (FU Berlin): The chemical industry is one of the largest economic sectors in Germany. At the same time, it is one of the largest producers of carbon dioxide due to its large energy consumption. To bring green chemistry innovations from research into industrial practice will therefore be absolutely crucial. Green chemical production — i.e. lowering energy consumption, substituting fossil energy sources by renewable electricity, and avoiding harmful emissions — will help the chemical industry to comply with tightening environmental regulations and to remain competitive. This green chemistry transformation will shape our future and can only be successful if we use this opportunity to bring innovative ideas to reality.
Man (HU Berlin): Germany’s green chemistry scene is poised for lift-off, fueled by robust policy support, vibrant research hubs, and focus on key areas like biocatalysis, CO2 utilization, and digitalization. The EU Green Deal, the Chemicals strategy for sustainability, as well as the German government’s National Hydrogen Strategy, act as guiding lights, while dedicated initiatives like the greenCHEM ecosystem (that we are a part of) inject fuel into supporting innovative projects.
Of course, there are and will be many persisting challenges, such as scaling up green technologies and shifting industry mindsets. But Germany’s commitment to a circular economy approach, coupled with its strong research landscape and focus on specific growth areas, positions it as a potential global leader in sustainable chemical practices. So actually, I think the future of green chemistry in Germany is indeed quite bright.
What advice would you give to other institutions considering signing the GCC?
Rahmel (TU Berlin): Sign it! You not only get inspired by the incredible Beyond Benign team and the other GCC signees, you receive access to all materials, best practices, and hands-on advice. Very importantly, you make a statement for advancing chemistry toward a better future.
What impact do you hope your institution’s signing of the GCC will have in your local community?
Tzschucke (FU Berlin): Interest in environmental and societal issues is traditionally very strong in the Berlin community and politics. Signing of the GCC fits well and makes it easier for current and future students to recognize that all three Berlin universities work together to provide education and research opportunities to address global challenges.
Man (HU Berlin): My hope is that this commitment will translate into concrete actions and tangible benefits for our community, not just symbolic gestures. Concrete actions such as equipping chemistry and chemistry education students with knowledge of green chemistry practices would support them to become vital contributors to solving local challenges and inspiring future generations to embrace sustainable practices. By fostering this knowledge and enthusiasm in the next generation, we’re not just shaping future chemists, we’re laying the groundwork for a community that breathes cleaner air, reduces waste, and embraces green innovative solutions.
How you can get involved:
- Learn more about the GCC by signing up for our informational email series
- Find green chemistry near you (and across the globe!) by exploring our interactive map
- Be a part of the growing movement and connect with your peers by joining the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC)
