What makes chemistry sustainable? The case of the Pine Institute and resin chemistry in Aquitaine (1900–1970)

Abstract This article explores the historical case of the Pine Institute in Aquitaine (France) to examine whether resin chemistry between 1900 and 1970 can be regarded as a precursor to modern green and sustainable chemistry. By situating the Institute’s activities within broader scientific, economic, and ecological contexts, the study challenges the common perception that sustainability in chemistry emerged only recently. The analysis reveals that resin chemistry at the Pine Institute exhibited