DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trechm.2019.03.007

Summary
The paper discusses the necessity of combining the knowledge gained from reductionist approaches in Chemistry over the past two centuries with integrative-systems thinking to inform designs for a sustainable future.
While reductionism has resulted in tremendous advances across many sectors, this approach has also brought about significant and deleterious unintended consequences in human health and the environment. The author mentions a few historical examples i.e. the tragic birth defects from thalidomide; but he mainly refers to the efforts of the scientific community to protect the environment and human health with strategies having undesirable side effects such as the contamination of the drinking water, the produce of toxic byproducts and in general damages on the biodiversity and ecosystem function. This drives to the conclusion that knowledge gained from the reductionist approach is critical, but incomplete. The introduction of integrative-systems thinking is very important for a sustainable future.
Five foundational criteria toward the design of the right things the right way following the “Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry” are analysed.
-The first criterion is the “Design for Inherency”. Functional performance and cost are often the exclusive considerations in design. As such, the inherent ability to cause adverse consequence to humans and the environment is often overlooked. Green Chemistry Principle 4 states that chemical products should be designed to preserve efficacy of function while reducing or eliminating hazard. Significant contributions have been made to advance rational design of safer chemicals as demonstrated by the first set of property-based guidelines for distinguishing toxic chemicals from those in general commerce. These important efforts in the development of safer molecules and materials must ‘preserve efficacy of function’.
-The second criterion is the “Design for Life Cycle”. Life-cycle thinking endorses a holistic perspective where a design is evaluated from the acquisition of feedstocks through transforming the feedstocks to use and end of life. Considering the entire life cycle is vitally important because different impacts (i.e., energy use, carbon emissions, water use, eutrophication, waste generation, and toxicity) can occur at different life stages.
-The “Design of Function” refers on setting functional performance goals rather than specifying a solution. This enables the most degrees of design freedom for innovation to realize sustainable solutions.
- Another criterion is the “Design for a Dynamic World”. As we are living in a dynamic world with exponential change in human impacts at the global scale ranging from population to carbon dioxide emissions to water and fertilizer consumption our designs must be dynamic as well.
-The last criterion is the “Design for Resiliency”. Achieving sustainability will arguably require the development of resilient engineered systems that mirror the dynamic attributes of ecological systems. Resilience can be defined as the capacity of a system to tolerate disturbances while retaining its structure and function. Resilience has been reported as critical characteristic of complex, dynamic systems in a range of disciplines including economics, ecology, pedology, psychology, sociology, risk management, and network theory.
In conclusion, the author states that the unintended consequences that society is enduring are due partly to the way that chemists have pursued their craft, focusing on knowledge generated in a reductionist-only framework.

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
The paper deals with systems thinking and sustainable development.
Author claims that it is necessary to combine the knowledge from the reductionist framework with insight from integrative systems thinking to realize intentional design for sustainability. For example, knowledge of the functional performance of a molecule is a minimal requirement. However, it is also critical to understand the potential hazards of the molecule. Ideally, to deal with properties or structures dictate the functional performance and potential hazards. This knowledge of property–function and property–hazard must then be used to inform enhanced design of future solutions where performance includes not only function and cost but also environmental, social, and human health considerations.

Point of Strength
The strength of the publication is the proposed foundational criteria which have to be taken into consideration by chemists to improve designs for a sustainable future.