Sustainable development arguments

These stakeholders often have different worldviews. In stakeholder discussions this is often not recognized. The previous section on worldviews in relation to sustainable development should help to understand the background of certain arguments used in stakeholder discussions. 

The development of PH A into a branch of bulk chemical industry will address at least three issues shortage of petroleum for plastic materials, reduction of CO emissions, and environmental protection. It is related to the sustainable development of the chemical and material industries. The newly developed PHA-based biofuels open up a new area for development that avoids argument on food versus fuel and fuel versus land. However, much more work needs to be done to reduce the cost of PHA production so that PHA-based biofuel can be added to the existing bio-based fuels, including ethanol, propanol, butanol, biodiesel, hydrogen, and methane gas (Fig. 7). 

If we now consider prototypical chemistry-related issues from the debate about sustainable development and green chemistry many of them meet these criteria. Chemistry-related issues of sustainable development, like a more intense production and use of alternative fuels or bioplastics, are discussed in mass media. Regulations on their use will potentially have an impact on the students consumer choices. The use of alternative fuels or bioplastics is still controversial pro and con arguments are given in societal debate and can be used in students open debate. And, finally, these issues are definitely questions of chemistry and technology corresponding arguments are used in public debate. 

In Part IV, we turn to the issue of patents and pharmaceuticals. Adam Mannan and Alan Story argue that drug access could be improved if product patents were abolished. They argue that even if a process patent is present, competitors can find alternative processes or uses for the chemical compound and create price competition. To further support their argument, the authors explain how the patent system was created not because it had to create conditions for sustainable innovation, but for market protection. They note that, until recently, few countries even recognized pharmaceutical product patents and some countries, such as India, were able to develop a thriving industry as a result of the absence of product patents. 

As discussed in Chapter 1, the aim of this book was to highlight all the areas that have to be regarded to realize the vision of a biobased economy as a sustainable industrial future based on renewable resources often is termed. The subject of the chapters was inspired by the scientific framework and the business conditions with an influence on the development of a biobased economy. Let us recapitulate the arguments from the specialist. 

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