Cape Breton University’s Chemistry Department Joins the Global Green Chemistry Commitment

The Department of Chemistry at Cape Breton University has officially joined the Green Chemistry Commitment, a global initiative led by the non-profit Beyond Benign. This milestone reinforces the department’s pledge to embed sustainability into chemistry education, research and innovation.

By signing the Green Chemistry Commitment, the department joins a growing international network of universities dedicated to transforming how chemistry is taught—prioritizing human health, environmental protection and green innovation.

As part of this commitment, CBU’s Department of Chemistry will:

• Integrate green chemistry principles across lecture and laboratory courses
• Prepare students to design safer, more sustainable materials and chemical processes
• Promote research that minimizes environmental impact and supports circular solutions
• Collaborate globally to share tools, resources and best practices in green chemistry education

“We are preparing the next generation of scientists to lead with responsibility, creativity and sustainability,” says Dr. Stephanie MacQuarrie, Dean of the School of Science and Technology. “This commitment ensures our students gain the tools they need to solve real-world challenges in a safer and more innovative way.”

Green chemistry focuses on creating chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. The field aims to shape a more sustainable future, one guided by foundational principles such as waste reduction, the use of renewable resources and designing for degradation.

By adopting these principles in its curriculum, the Chemistry Department is helping shape future chemists who are not only technically skilled but also ethically and environmentally conscious.

“We view green chemistry not as an add-on, but as an essential part of how we teach our students,” says Dr. Martin Mkandawire, Chair of the Department of Chemistry.

More than 215 chemistry departments worldwide have joined the Green Chemistry Commitment, impacting over 1.2 million students to date. Cape Breton University’s Department of Chemistry is proud to join this community of educators and researchers advancing climate-conscious chemistry, clean technology and environmental equity.

The Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC), launched in 2013 by Beyond Benign, supports chemistry departments in rethinking curriculum and research for a more sustainable future. The GCC community fosters open collaboration, provides curriculum resources and encourages peer support to ensure meaningful and measurable progress.

Interested in Chemistry at CBU? Visit this page to learn more: https://www.cbu.ca/academics/programs/chemistry/