Paul Anastas

Paul T. Anastas is the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Professor in the Practice of Chemistry for the Environment at Yale University. He holds appointments in the School of the Environment, Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Public Health, and School of Management. As Director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale, he leads efforts in sustainable chemical practices. His distinguished career includes serving as Assistant Administrator and Science Advisor at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 2009 to 2012, Director of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute from 2004 to 2006, and Assistant Director for the Environment in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy from 1999 to 2004. Earlier at the EPA, he was Chief of the Industrial Chemistry Branch and Director of the U.S. Green Chemistry Program, where he is credited with establishing the field of green chemistry. Anastas also worked as an industrial consultant after completing his training as a synthetic organic chemist.

Anastas earned his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, M.A. in Chemistry from Brandeis University, and Ph.D. in Chemistry from Brandeis University. His research specializations encompass green chemistry, green engineering, sustainability, business and the environment, climate science and policy, energy, environmental analysis, and designing safer chemicals and processes. He has published extensively, authoring eleven books including the seminal Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice with co-author John Warner, Benign by Design, Designing Safer Polymers, and Green Engineering. Recent publications include 'Renewably sourced amino-acid- and lignin-based solid-state emitters' (2026), 'Enhanced production of dimethyl carbonate from the alternating polarity electrolysis of methanol and carbon dioxide' (2025), and 'Transform the World through Chemistry' (2025). Anastas has received prestigious awards such as the 2021 Volvo Environment Prize for revolutionizing the chemical industry through green chemistry and the August Wilhelm von Hofmann Commemorative Medal in 2022. He co-authored the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, founded the Presidential Green Chemistry Awards and the ACS Green Chemistry Institute, and has profoundly impacted academia and industry by promoting sustainable chemical design and innovation.

Professional Email: paul.anastas@yale.edu