Expectations for Manuscripts in the Field of Polymer Science in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

Abstract

With their annual worldwide production exceeding 400 million tons, (1) polymers are vital to nearly every aspect of our lives. On the contrary, polymers are also a central topic in the field of sustainability because of their adverse impact on the environment, ranging from CO₂ emission via the use of often highly problematic chemicals and synthesis routes to the release of microplastics, polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and other contaminants such as plasticizers or flame-retardants. These aspects are most pronounced in fossil-based single-use plastic materials. Research on reducing their environmental and societal impacts is thus essential and urgent, rendering polymer chemistry and engineering key areas for the required sustainable development. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (ACS SCE) is committed to publishing new and exciting findings in polymer research that clearly showcase significant and well-documented advancements in terms of sustainability. Only if both novelty and sustainability criteria are sufficiently fulfilled will a manuscript be considered within the scope of ACS SCE. Specifically, either nonconformance or a lack of clear articulation of sustainability aspects, commonly represented by the principles of green chemistry or green engineering, will be sufficient grounds for rejection even if a manuscript is strong in other technical aspects. Equally, a lack of scientific novelty and impact is a reason for rejection. Therefore, it is generally suggested that authors incorporate both a sustainability statement and a safety statement about their work in their cover letter and the conclusion section of their manuscript. An improvement in terms of sustainability may be evidenced by an improved life cycle or, at an earlier stage of research, by using well-established sustainable chemistry metrics, such as the E-factor and other mass-based metrics, best combined with an evaluation of toxicity and environmental impact. Furthermore, a smaller environmental impact might be evidenced by a reduced cumulative energy demand. When using such sustainability evaluations, comparison to established products or procedures is a useful practice. New ideas and approaches to reach these challenging sustainability goals within the field of polymer research are necessary, including improvements in the feedstock, sourcing, synthesis, formulation, use, application, and end-of-life management stages of polymeric materials. For instance, new polymers with desirable application properties, prepared via resource-efficient routes from renewable resources that minimize waste generation, energy use, and/or toxicity, would be within the scope of the journal. In sharp contrast, biobased polymers prepared using either toxic substances or material/energy-intensive routes that generate increased amounts of waste compared to their non biobased counterparts would not be. Specifically, the use of toxic substances in the process, as either monomers, catalysts, additives, solvents, or other substances, should be avoided altogether or, if not possible, clearly justified. Standards such as the 2012 OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) or Hazardous Products Regulations (SOR/2015–17) list many of the compounds that are commonly incorporated into polymers as hazardous, including frequently used monomers. SDS sheets and toxicity databases can be further informative sources for authors to consult. Manuscripts that describe improved material properties of polymers are potentially within the scope of the journal only if such improved properties can be directly and explicitly linked to an improved sustainability aspect and the synthesis steps adhere to green chemistry/engineering principles. Expectations with respect to the tools that may be used to demonstrate sustainability attributes may be found in earlier journal editorials. (2−4) As an example, increasing the lifetime of a known polymeric material with otherwise unchanged impacts in the preparation, use, and end-of-life characteristics would conserve feedstock and be within scope. The end-of-life handling of polymeric materials is highly important to sustainability, as advances in recycling and reuse can conserve resources and advance circularity. To be within the journal scope, manuscripts that detail chemical degradation studies of polymers must discuss not only the improved sustainability aspects of the degradation process, but also recycle or reuse strategies that promote circularity. Similarly, manuscripts dealing with biodegradation of polyesters or other polymeric materials must characterize the complete breakdown pathways and consider any adverse effects of the degradation products on the environment. Manuscripts dealing with new and/or improved strategies for separating and collecting plastics from waste streams with subsequent mechanical or chemical recycling into building block chemicals are particularly encouraged. Modest variations of known plastic synthesis schemes, including but not limited to either the blending of established materials with biomass (or one of its components) or the use of well-established renewable monomers, are considered incremental advances and likely out of scope unless a compelling case for improved sustainability is made. As communicated in previous editorials, (2,4) manuscripts describing the use of toxic or otherwise problematic substances, for instance, solvents, additives, or reactants, will be deemed out of scope, unless alternative reagents have been considered and proven not to work. To assess if a manuscript might be suitable for ACS SCE, authors are encouraged to ensure that as many of the principles of green chemistry and green engineering are adhered to as possible without violating the others. If some of the principles are nevertheless violated, quantitative sustainability assessments that clearly identify environmental hot spots to be mitigated for improving sustainability are required. For instance, comparative environmental impact analysis using sustainability metrics might guide the replacement of polymeric materials with alternate substances that impart the same function but with less environmental impact over the life cycle of the material. We hope that these guidelines will be useful to ACS SCE authors in their research and in developing compelling manuscripts that advance the science and applications of more sustainable polymers. This article references 4 other publications. This article has not yet been cited by other publications.