Key learnings from NCCR Catalysis Sustainability Day 2026

On 10 April 2026, NCCR Catalysis hosted its third Sustainability Day. The event brought together academic and industry experts to discuss approaches to sustainability assessment, complemented by a panel discussion that encouraged cross-disciplinary exchange. More than 110 participants joined on-site at the ETH Zurich Hönggerberg Campus and on-line via Zoom.

The program covered a wide range of topics focused on rethinking the chemical value chain, including systems thinking, circularity, sustainable process development and manufacturing, data availability and gaps, metrics for assessing sustainability, and the role of guidance and regulatory frameworks. Discussions also highlighted the persistent gap between scientific progress and its translation into measurable, real-world sustainability impact. Here are three key takeaways from the event.

1. Systems-level thinking as the starting point

Sustainability Day 2026 opened with a clear message: transforming chemical value chains requires a systems-level perspective. From circularity to life cycle assessment, discussions led by Prof. Yvonne van der Meer and Prof. Matthew Eckelman highlighted that sustainability must be embedded throughout the entire life cycle, from raw materials to end-of-life. This approach is increasingly reflected in policy, with Switzerland advancing frameworks that promote life cycle thinking and circular-economy strategies. Yet, speakers noted that safe-and-sustainable-by-design is still not implemented at scale, underscoring the need to better connect scientific insight with real-world application.

2. Data and metrics remain a critical bottleneck

Industry perspectives showed how sustainability is being operationalized through metrics, data, and process design, while also revealing persistent challenges. Talks by Dr. Michael U. Luescher (Novartis) and Dr. Stefan Hildbrand (Roche) demonstrated that chemistry and catalysis are central to improving sustainability outcomes, but decisions must balance environmental impact with safety, cost, and performance. While data-driven tools are becoming more widely used, gaps remain, particularly in early-stage decision-making, where the greatest influence lies. The discussion made clear that progress depends on combining robust data with practical judgment to guide trade-offs and scale solutions effectively.

3. Closing the gap: From insight to implementation

Across the day, life cycle thinking emerged as a shared foundation, helping to align perspectives from academia, industry, and policy. As highlighted during the panel discussion, the challenge is not a lack of knowledge, but translating it into consistent action – especially given that, as noted in the regulatory perspective, substantial measures to enable safe-and-sustainable-by-design remain missing. At the same time, discussions reinforced the need to focus on broader system-level assessments, rather than solely on emissions.

The panel participants agreed that earlier integration of sustainability, better data, and shared frameworks are essential to closing the gap between innovation and implementation. Programs like NCCR Catalysis play a key role in enabling this shift by connecting disciplines and stakeholders. The overall conclusion was pragmatic: advancing sustainable chemistry depends on stronger collaboration and the ability to consistently turn insight into impact.

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