A Critical Review of Green Chemistry Integration in Vocational Education: Theoretical Frameworks and Pedagogical Strategies

Green chemistry education has focused almost exclusively on university scientists, leaving technicians in Vocational Education and Training (VET) largely unsupported. To map this specific sector, we utilized PRISMA guidelines to screen and analyze 80 documents addressing sustainability in trade-level curricula. The results show a fragmented picture. Unlike undergraduate courses, VET instruction still focuses heavily on “end-of-pipe” compliance, such as disposing of hazardous waste, rather than preventing pollution at the source. We define this persistent gap between industrial needs and educational output as the “vocational lag”. To bridge this gap, we propose a novel framework that integrates Systems Thinking with Work-Integrated Learning (WIL). This approach transforms standard safety protocols into pedagogical tools for developing “Middle-Level Green Competence”. This review offers a roadmap for aligning vocational training with the chemical industry’s sustainable transformation.