Glossary

Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) are used to treat heavily contaminated wastewater, originating, for example, from the chemical or pharmaceutical industries. These processes involve hydrogen peroxide being activated by adding components, such as ultraviolet light, ozone or ‒ as in the Fenton reaction ‒ iron salts, to increase the oxidation effect. During activation, hydroxyl radicals are formed that have a very high oxidation potential. These break the complex, difficult-to-degrade molecules down into small fragments, which are then biodegradable.

Hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid are used as sterilizing agents for beverage packaging and PET bottles. Bacteria and germs are removed from the packaging or bottle in a germ-free environment shortly before the beverage is packaged/bottled. No sterilizing agent residues are left behind in the packaging. This ensures that the contents remain fresh and have a long shelf life, without needing to add preservatives.

Carbon dioxide is a colorless gas consisting of the elements carbon and oxygen, which plays an important role in climate change. In German-speaking countries, carbonic acid is often mistakenly referred to colloquially as 'carbon dioxide'. Carbon dioxide is one of the most important greenhouse gases, because it absorbs some of the heat that the Earth emits into space and radiates it back to Earth. This creates a temperate climate on Earth. However, human activities have greatly increased the CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming. Carbon dioxide in low concentrations is a natural component of the air we breathe and is produced, among other things, during the combustion of fossil fuels, such as natural gas, crude oil and coal. The gas is widely used in industry, for example in solid form as dry ice, as a fertilizer in greenhouses, as a solvent or as an additive in soft drinks.

There is no hard and fast definition of this term. It means that a product or activity does not affect the climate. Strictly speaking, this does not only refer to greenhouse gases, but to all human actions that have an impact on the climate. However, the term is often used synonymously with CO₂-neutral and greenhouse gas-neutral.

This indicates the amount of carbon dioxide emissions caused directly or indirectly. Depending on the definition, the value often includes other greenhouse gases (for example, methane or nitrous oxide) in addition to carbon dioxide, which are usually calculated in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent. The term can be applied to people, products, companies, organizations and countries, among others. The CO₂ footprint of a product considers greenhouse gas emissions along its entire value chain. Life cycle analysis provides a broader definition. (c.f. Life Cycle Assessment, LCA)

In addition to carbon dioxide (CO₂), other greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide or hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) also contribute to global warming. The CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) indicates how great the impact of a gas is during a certain period of time, compared to the same amount of CO₂. The reference base is therefore always carbon dioxide.

CO₂-neutral means that an activity has no impact on the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere: either no CO₂ is emitted or CO₂ emissions are fully offset. The definition of the term is not clear ‒ sometimes it is used synonymously with greenhouse gas neutral and climate neutral.

This refers to the responsibility that companies have for the impact of their activities on society. Accordingly, a corporate strategy should be geared toward combining business success with social and societal responsibility and environmental protection. In practice, the term is often used synonymously with a company's sustainable actions.

It is one of the advanced oxidation processes (AOP processes) used in the treatment of heavily contaminated industrial wastewater. The basic principle was discovered way back by Henry John Horstman Fenton at the end of the 19th century. This process involves hydrogen peroxide being activated by iron salts to increase the oxidation effect. So-called hydroxyl radicals with a high oxidation potential are formed. These break up large molecules that are difficult to degrade. This pretreatment then enables wastewater to be biotreated in a wastewater treatment plant.

The footprint of a product includes all the negative impacts on the environment during its entire life cycle ‒ from raw materials to production and transport to the end of its life cycle. This footprint needs be minimized in order to make a product’s life cycle sustainable (c.f. Handprint).

Hydrogen (H₂) is a colorless, odorless substance that occurs in all living organisms, predominantly in chemical compounds like water. It is an energy source that is playing an important role in the energy transition. Unlike electricity, it can be stored easily and does not emit greenhouse gases when combusted. Green hydrogen is produced by water electrolysis using electricity from renewable sources in a CO₂-neutral way. It can replace fossil fuels and be used as an industrial raw material.

The term stands for environmentally compatible space travel. In line with this catchphrase, the space industry is increasingly focusing on sustainable propulsion technologies for new generations of rockets, in order to reduce their impact on people and the environment. Highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide is suitable here as an environmentally compatible, resource-efficient propellant. It can also be used in hybrid rockets. (c.f. New Space)

The term is not clearly defined. It means that products or activities do not increase the amount of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous oxide released into the atmosphere, or that emissions are fully offset. The various greenhouse gases are usually converted into CO₂ units. The term is often used synonymously with CO₂-neutral and climate-neutral.

The positive (or neutral) impact of a product on the environment is referred to as its handprint. This should be as large as possible. For example, a product can help ensure that downstream processes are more resource-efficient, that fewer emissions are generated, or that fewer (harmful) byproducts are produced. The handprint also includes the absence of negative consequences for the environment (c.f. Footprint).

Numerous industrial processes generate considerable amounts of waste heat. If this waste heat is not released into the environment (air, water), but used for a specific purpose, this is known as heat recovery. The recovered heat can be used, for example, in upstream process steps or other production processes, in order to reduce the consumption of primary energy there.

The special feature of hybrid rockets is that hydrogen peroxide is not only used here as a fuel for the turbopump, as is the case with the propulsion of large rockets such as Soyuz, but ensures propulsion of the entire rocket together with a second fuel. Hybrid rockets feature tanks containing liquid oxidizer ‒ highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide ‒ and a combustion chamber containing a solid fuel, such as polyethylene. To achieve the desired thrust, a valve is opened and the liquid fuel is forced into the combustion chamber via a catalyst. There, the liquid fuel reacts with the solid fuel and provides the necessary thrust. The advantage of using these substances is that there is no risk of explosion during storage and operation. They are also easy to handle and more environmentally compatible than conventional fuels.

Hydrazine (N₂H₄) is a nitrogen compound that has been used since the 1960s as a fuel for satellites, probes and rocket stages. Hydrazine has the advantages of being very potent and can be stored for long periods of time. The disadvantage is that hydrazine is toxic, has proven to be carcinogenic in animal studies, and is highly toxic to aquatic organisms. Therefore, its use must be subject to stringent safety rules to protect humans and the environment. Hydrazine is used both as a single-component propellant (monopropellant) and as a bipropellant in combination with an oxidizing agent.

This is used to systematically record the environmental impact of a product or process throughout its entire life cycle. The aim is to identify the sources of emissions and develop environmentally compatible solutions on this basis. Evonik has taken a "cradle-to-gate" approach ("cradle" to "factory gate") for various products and technologies, looking at emissions at different stages of a product's manufacture, and then analyzing them in terms of their environmental impact, comparing them with alternative products and processes, and evaluating them. These life cycle assessments are produced using a dedicated Life Cycle Management (LCM) system.

Megatrends are long-term and far-reaching global developments, including technological changes, that shape many areas of society and the economy. Megatrends include, for example, individualization, urbanization, globalization and mobility. They have an impact on different aspects of people's lives. Often, they cannot be clearly distinguished from one another, but blend with and influence one another. The term itself was coined in 1982 by futurologist John Naisbitt.

The term describes the phenomenon in which more and more private stakeholders are becoming involved in the space market, alongside state-run organizations like ESA, NASA or ROSCOSMOS. They are driving the development of sustainable rocket technologies and also launching rockets and satellites into space themselves. Many companies also come from traditional sectors of industry and use satellite data for applications like smart farming, logistics or autonomous driving. Data can also be used to monitor the environment and climate. This commercialization of space is creating competition, which in turn is driving innovation. This way, New Space is helping to make life on Earth not only more digital, but also more sustainable. (c.f. Green Rocketry)

An oxidizing agent is a substance that can oxidize other substances. Some oxidants are characterized by the fact that oxygen is released to the other substance. For example, carbon reacts with the oxidant oxygen during combustion to form carbon dioxide. In addition to oxygen, hydrogen peroxide is a well-known, very potent oxidizing agent. It therefore acts as a strong bleaching and disinfecting agent, as does peracetic acid. Halogens are also oxidizing agents, one of the strongest being fluorine.

Polyurethane is a material in demand worldwide and is classed as a plastic or synthetic resin. Different types of plastic can be produced, depending on manufacturing method, making it a really versatile material. PU foams, for example, are suitable for thermal insulation, polyurethane is used in the automotive, construction and textile industries and is a component of adhesives and paints as well, and even many soccer balls are made of it. The type of plastic produced and its properties depend primarily on the choice of precursors isocyanate and polyol used.

Propene is a colorless, flammable gas. In the chemical industry, it often serves as a primary material for other products, for example, propylene oxide (a precursor for polyurethane) or propylene glycol. Evonik Active Oxygens has worked with partners to develop its HP Plus processes, which enable customers to produce propylene oxide (using the HPPO method) and propylene glycol (using the HPPG method) efficiently and sustainably. Propene itself is currently produced primarily from petroleum-based sources, and work is ongoing to produce it from sustainable sources.

Propylene glycol is a colorless, almost odorless liquid. Because propylene glycol has dissolving and emulsifying properties, it is in great demand in industry and is suitable for a variety of applications: as an additive in medicines, creams and toothpaste, as a food additive in chewing gum, and it is also used in antifreeze and tobacco products. Together with Dow, Evonik Active Oxygens has developed the HPPG process, which enables the versatile material to be produced from propene and hydrogen peroxide in a single process step. The HPPG process is currently being readied for its market launch under the brand name HYPROSYN®.

Propylene oxide is a colorless liquid with an ethereal odor. It is highly flammable and soluble in water and alcohol. Propylene oxide is a precursor of polyols, which in turn can be used to produce polyurethane. Together with thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions, Evonik Active Oxygens has co-developed the HPPO process, which can produce propylene oxide from propene and hydrogen peroxide in an environmentally compatible way.

Responsible Care is a global initiative of the chemical industry and chemicals trade, founded in Canada in 1985. Its goal is continuous improvement in the areas of environmental protection, health and safety. Companies and associations from more than 50 countries are participating in this initiative through national programs.

A roadmap graphically depicts how a product, a strategy or a project is to evolve in the long term. The path to the goal is divided into several sub-steps. This visualization of the rough chronological sequence creates a common understanding among all those involved.

This term refers to the digitalization of agriculture. Satellite data can be used to make agriculture more efficient and sustainable. From the data, farmers can deduce, for example, the condition of the soil in their fields or the precise need for water, seed and fertilizer. The (partially) autonomous control of agricultural machinery and other digital solutions to improve processes also play a role here. (c.f. New Space)

Stabilizers are added to reactive substances, e.g. hydrogen peroxide, to prevent a premature reaction and thus make the substances more stable. The type and quantity of stabilizers depend, among other things, on how long a substance must remain stable in a specific application. The quality and purity of the transport container, the duration of storage, temperature stress and other factors also play a role here.

The concept of sustainability means taking future generations into account when satisfying present needs, for example in protecting the environment and conserving resources. Sustainability is based on three pillars – economic, environmental and social – which are all mutually dependent. A successful long-term corporate strategy therefore combines commercial or economic success with social responsibility and environmental protection. The United Nations embedded sustainability in its Agenda 2030 dating from 2015 in the form of 17 sustainability goals.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 and will run until 2030. They form the core of Agenda 2030, which is intended to enable a life in decent conditions around the world, encompassing economic, environmental and social aspects. All countries are called upon to align themselves accordingly.

Water electrolysis involves electric current being used to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is obtained in this way and can be stored as an energy source. If electricity from renewable sources is used in electrolysis, the hydrogen produced is virtually emission-free. This is why it is also called “green hydrogen”.