Discover and Explore Green Consumer Products

几乎不可能忽视目前媒体上关于环境问题的大量信息。特别是，随着最近主要零售商宣布承诺实现碳中和，消费者对这些问题的意识正在不断增强。然而，他们在多大程度上理解了这些说法背后的科学，他们是否能够获得一个易于理解和平衡的信息来源来回答他们的疑问？越来越多的人认识到，绿色化学的应用将是生产环境友好型产品的基础，从而获得消费者的信心和信任。绿色化学的出现是近年来化学科学领域最重要的发展之一。然而，公众对绿色化学的认识和理解是有限的，普遍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现象，至少在一定程度上可以归因于当前媒体的关注和非政府组织的压力，只有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，才能解决这一问题。约克大学的绿色化学中心与布里斯托尔大学的Boots The Chemists和格拉斯哥科学中心合作，试图通过使用触摸屏技术来探索消费者日常使用的产品，如沐浴露、润肤霜、牙膏等，创造和提供一个动手操作和信息丰富的显示器，来解决这个问题。通过进入虚拟浴室并选择其中一种产品，参观者将体验到一系列基于图片和动画的多项选择题，这些问题旨在揭示产品的制成材料，制作方法，工作原理以及使用后会发生什么，并将采取措施通过应用绿色化学来提高其可持续性。该展览将在布里斯托尔和格拉斯哥科学中心同时举行，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对环境的影响，并促进绿色化学与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.