Green Chemistry and Circular Economy: Alternative Perspectives to Sustainable Development in India

Book: Intersectionality Between Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals: A Socio-Legal Perspective from India by CSMFL Publications

by Aryan Khare1 & Deepak Kumar Srivastava2
1Assistant Professor of Law at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala, India; 2Associate Professor and Dean – Undergraduate Studies at Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur, India.
10.46679/9788196780524ch15
This chapter is a part of: Intersectionality Between Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals: A Socio-Legal Perspective from India
ISBN (Ebook):978-81-967805-2-4
ISBN (Hardcover Print):978-81-967805-0-0
ISBN (Softcover Print):978-81-967805-3-1

© CSMFL Publications & its authors.
Published: August 28, 2025

Khare, A., & Srivastava, D. K. (2025). Green Chemistry and Circular Economy: Alternative Perspectives to Sustainable Development in India. In N. Chaudhary & S. Chaturvedi, Intersectionality Between Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals: A Socio-Legal Perspective from India (pp 247-260). CSMFL Publications.
https://dx.doi.org/10.46679/9788196780524ch15

Abstract

The term “sustainable development” means utilizing the resources for the present needs without compromising the needs of the future. The initiative towards sustainable development was taken by the United Nations, which provided the Sustainable Development Goals that will be adopted by 2030. This initiative was further extended with the assistance of the governments of various countries. This study explores the alternatives to the concept of sustainable development and it identifies the concept of green chemistry and the role of circular economy in achieving the SDGs. The concept of green chemistry is considered an alternative way towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. The green chemistry principles focus on the need to adopt safe and green chemicals that produce less hazardous waste and provide an eco-friendly ecosystem. The study analyses the international framework in different countries relating to the development of the concept of green chemistry and its transposition into national legislation and the Indian Perspective on green chemistry principles. Further, it analyses the concept of circular economy, which is based on the principle of achieving ‘zero waste’ during the system of production as an alternative principle achieve to sustainable development, and identifies the operational principles of circular economy. Further, it analyses the implementation of the principles of circular economy through policies and legislative frameworks in different countries, including India. Lastly, a framework has been suggested for developing these concepts and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Keywords: Green Chemistry (GC), Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Circular Economy (CE).

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