Discover and Explore Green Consumer Products

几乎不可能忽视目前媒体上有关环境问题的大量信息。特别是，随着主要零售商最近宣布致力于实现碳中和，消费者对这些问题的认识正在不断提高。然而，他们在多大程度上理解这些说法背后的科学，他们是否能够获得易于理解和平衡的信息来源来回答他们的问题？人们越来越认识到，绿色化学的应用将是生产环境友好型产品的基础，这些产品既有消费者的信心，也有消费者的信任。绿色化学的出现是近年来化学科学最重要的发展之一。然而，公众对绿色化学的认识和理解是有限的，人们通常认为化学是环境问题的原因，而不是解决方案。这种对化学品缺乏信心的情况至少部分可归因于媒体和非政府组织的压力所强调的当前关切，只能通过直接与消费者接触并以积极的方式将他们与化学品联系起来来解决。约克大学的绿色化学中心与Boots the Chemists、At-Bristol和格拉斯哥科学中心合作，试图通过使用触摸屏技术创建和提供动手和信息显示来探索消费者通常日常使用的产品，例如沐浴露、保湿霜、牙膏等，来解决这个问题。通过进入虚拟浴室并选择这些产品之一，参观者将体验一系列以图片为基础的多项选择和动画问题，这些问题是专门为揭示产品是由什么制成的、如何制造的、如何工作以及我们使用后会发生什么而设计的，并将包括可以采取的步骤，通过应用绿色化学来提高其可持续性。展览将在布里斯托尔和格拉斯哥科学中心举行，旨在吸引成人和儿童。通过这项活动，项目团队旨在吸引公众，让他们思考他们日常生活中所享受的产品的环境影响，并促进绿色化学和消费品之间的积极联系。

It is almost impossible to ignore the profusion of information currently in the media regarding environmental issues. In particular, with the recent announcements from leading retailers declaring their commitment to becoming carbon neutral, consumers' awareness of these issues is continuing to grow. However, to what extent do they understand the science behind these claims and are they able to access an easy-to-understand and balanced source of information to answer their queries? It is increasingly being recognised that the application of green chemistry will be fundamental to the production of environmentally friendly products that have both the confidence and trust of consumers. The emergence of green chemistry has been one of the most significant developments in the chemical sciences in recent years. However the awareness and understanding of green chemistry amongst the general public is limited, and it is commonly perceived that chemistry is the cause of environmental problems rather than the solution. This lack of confidence in chemicals could be at least in part attributed to current concerns highlighted in the press and pressure from NGOs, and can only be resolved through directly engaging with consumers and connecting them with chemicals in a positive way. The Green Chemistry Centre at the University of York in partnership with Boots the Chemists, At-Bristol and Glasgow Science Centre, seek to address this issue through the creation and delivery of a hands-on and informative display using touch screen technology to explore products consumers typically use daily e.g. shower gel, moisturiser, toothpaste etc. By entering a virtual bathroom and selecting one of these products, the visitor will experience a series of multiple-choice picture-based and animated questions tailored to uncover what the product is made from, how it is made, how it works and what happens after we use it, and will incorporate the steps that can be taken to improve their sustainability through the application of green chemistry. The display will be hosted at both At-Bristol and Glasgow Science Centre, and will be designed to appeal to both adults and children. Through this activity the project team aim to engage the public and get them thinking about the environmental implications of the products they enjoy as part of everyday life and promote a positive connection between green chemistry and consumer products.