Protecting the Planet - Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation

Chemistry is at the heart of environmental issues

Doing more with less

Detergents that work effectively at low temperatures, low-emission paints, and industrial processes that generate less waste. Producing with less energy, water, and pollutants, without compromising performance.

Reinventing materials, closing the loop

Materials designed to last, be repaired, and, above all, be recycled; transforming waste and CO₂ into new resources to transition to a circular economy.

Accelerating the energy transition

Materials that improve batteries, solar panels, and insulation, for more efficient and accessible low-carbon energy.

Making the invisible visible, protecting the environment

Sensors and pollution control technologies to monitor, filter, and restore air, water, and soil, and to preserve both biodiversity and health.

Help advance research

Notable discoveries made in Strasbourg

More sustainable chemistry

Amir Hoveyda Co-founder of the startup XiMo (with Richard Schrock)

In Amir Hoveyda’s laboratory, one ambition drives the research: to simplify the synthesis of the molecules that will become medicines. His work has notably led to the development of a key method in modern chemistry, whose effectiveness has been demonstrated from the laboratory to industrial-scale production. By reducing the number of synthesis steps, this approach minimizes solvent use and waste. It is now widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture drugs that are already being administered to thousands of patients.

Fewer persistent pollutants

Frédéric Leroux Deputy Scientific Director at the CNRS Chemistry Institute, a joint research laboratory with Bayer, from 2014 to 2024

In Strasbourg, researchers are developing alternatives to “forever chemicals”, substances that have been widely used since the 1990s and are found in certain medications and phytosanitary products. These pollutants accumulate in the environment and the human body, posing a major health risk. Frédéric Leroux’s team is exploring new fluorinated molecules that can replace PFAS while retaining the properties essential for patient health.

Sustainable bio-based materials

Luc Averous Mutaxio: a laboratory dedicated to developing new materials derived from biomass, in collaboration with Soprema

Luc Averous is exploring the potential of biomass to develop the materials of tomorrow. His research on sorbitol, a molecule derived from sugar beets, has led to the development of bio-based foams for thermal insulation in buildings. Conducted in collaboration with Soprema, this long-term project reached industrial-scale production, with materials used on several construction sites. Although these foams are no longer on the market, they marked an important step toward a more sustainable construction industry.