Key challenges-such as decarbonization, pollution reduction, and the advancement of the circular economy-are reshaping the chemicals market, driving demand for increasingly cost-effective bio-based and "green" water treatment chemicals. Utilities and industrial sectors are paying growing attention to the carbon footprint of their procured products, while increasingly stringent emission permits-particularly regarding phosphorus discharges-are fueling demand for unconventional chemicals. "Green chemistry" is an umbrella term encompassing a broad spectrum of bio-based chemicals, as well as other renewable, circular, or sustainable chemical technologies and manufacturing processes.
Applications involving cooling water, wastewater, and sludge treatment represent the areas with the greatest potential for green chemistry; within these markets, the "green" segments are projected to experience double-digit growth over the next decade. The chemicals typically employed in these applications-specifically coagulants, flocculants, scale inhibitors, and corrosion inhibitors-are technically the most amenable to bio-based and renewable production methods, and currently demonstrate the most pronounced transition toward green alternatives.
Bio-based feedstocks are poised to displace a significant portion of traditional inputs, particularly fossil fuels. For inorganic and mineral-based chemicals, a pivotal shift will involve transitioning toward the use of recycled and regenerated raw materials rather than virgin feedstocks. New products and processes are entering the market through R&D efforts by major manufacturers, as well as through collaborations between established corporations and emerging enterprises.
