Green and sustainable chemistry is transforming the way we approach chemistry, balancing human well-being with planetary health. To maximize its impact we must ensure it serves as a tool to reduce and minimize toxic chemical exposure and pollution in all communities but especially those in environmental justice (EJ) communities. But how do we, as chemists, ensure that our research, education, and training go beyond publications to create immediate, tangible benefits for the communities that need them most? The answer lies in directly engaging with EJ communities—listening to those on the frontlines, co-creating solutions with local organizations, and working alongside community members who experience the worst impacts of environmental and health hazards.

This workshop will explore how green chemistry and engineering can move beyond theory, leverage lived experiences, and ensure authentic engagement that better informs the targeted problems to solve, the chemistry we employ, the products and processes we develop, and the policies that govern this work. It will highlight real-life examples and case studies where green chemistry and sustainability have been used to co-create solutions with local communities, bringing us closer to a sustainable future.

Through discussions, storytelling, and expert insights, we will examine the intersection of green chemistry and EJ, identify key challenges, and explore solutions that deliver measurable benefits—safer products, reduced toxic exposures, improved worker safety, and clean air and water. With diverse perspectives from academia, industry, government, NGOs, and local EJ communities, we will move beyond merely quantifying the problem to a focused approach on effective implementation for lasting solutions.

Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to integrate EJ into their green chemistry work, driving meaningful and measurable change.