Klaus Kümmerer

Prof. Dr. Klaus Kümmerer is a Full Professor of Sustainable Chemistry and Material Resources at Leuphana University’s Institute of Sustainable Chemistry (INSC) in Lüneburg, Germany. He holds additional roles as Director of the International Research and Education Sustainable Collaborative Centre (ISC3) and member of the European Commission’s High Level Roundtable on Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. His career includes leadership roles such as Dean of Research at the Faculty of Sustainability (2012–2016) and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Chemistry since 2011.

Education: PhD in Chemistry from the University of Tübingen (1990), Diploma in Chemistry from the same institution (1986), and studies at Universities of Würzburg and Tübingen (1980–1986). He has held academic positions at institutions like the University Medical Centre Freiburg and served as a Visiting Professor at Case Western Reserve University (2002).

Research focuses on green/sustainable chemistry, environmental behavior of chemicals, and Benign by Design principles. Projects include leading initiatives like IRISS (Safe-and-Sustainable-by-design materials) and TransPharm (sustainable pharmaceutical sector transformation). He co-edits journals like Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry and Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy.

Awards include the 2024 Bundesverdienstkreuz and 2023 Wöhler Award. His work emphasizes international collaboration, with advisory roles in EU and UN initiatives. He has received Honorary Doctorates from Ghent University (2025) and the University of Helsinki (2025).

Grants and projects span €multi-million research endeavors, with a focus on recycling, pharmaceutical sustainability, and water resource management. His team collaborates globally, advancing sustainable chemistry through interdisciplinary approaches.