ABSTRACT
Active Anionic) .......................................................................................... 341 12.4 Future Prospects ................................................................................................................... 342 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................... 343 References ...................................................................................................................................... 343
Among the different surfactant systems, there are no currently established comparison criteria in terms of the degree of “greenness” and sustainable usage in the future. It has been recognized by various governments, industries, and the public that sustainability requires a balance in economy, ecology, and societal values. The idea of sustainability, or being green, has been characterized by several related but fundamentally different parameters, such as carbon footprint, biodegradability, toxicity, renewability, and so on. Certainly, these individual metrics cannot provide a full understanding of the impact of a surfactant system from “cradle to grave to cradle” approach. The life cycle impact analysis and the life cycle management developed recently by ecologists can yield a more comprehensive picture of the sustainability of a manufactured material. In this regard, one of the safest approaches is to start with a greener source and to follow a greener route of obtaining the nal product.
