„Ist das natürlich oder ist da Chemie drin?“ Ansätze zu einer transdisziplinären Verständigung über die,(Un-)Natürlichkeit' der Chemie

In environmental debates, the opinion is often raised that synthetic chemicals are 'unnatural'. Understanding this claim from a transdisciplinary background is fundamentally important for a productive discourse about the role of chemicals in the environment. This article systemizes different perceptions of the '(un-)naturalness' of chemicals and complements existing research on the distinction between 'natural' and 'artificial' substances. Furthermore, the importance of chemistry as a technique for reproducing 'natural' substances is highlighted and combined with a substance stories approach (German Stoffgeschichten). The article establishes a common ground for transdisciplinary communication about the '(un-)naturalness' of chemicals, which can thereby reduce misunderstandings and prejudices in public debates about chemicals in the environment.