The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalised a ban on most uses of methylene chloride (MCL) via a ‘final action’ under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Consumer use will be phased out within a year, and most industrial and commercial uses within two.
Dr Ilham Kadri, CEO of Syensqo, has succeeded BASF’s Dr. Martin Brudermueller as president of CEFIC. In accepting the position, she described this as “a pivotal moment for Europe and Europeans, industry at large and the European chemical industry itself. “I therefore very much look forward to supporting the next generation of European politicians and the new European Commission leadership. If I can relate one message already right now – go vote in June! It is crucial,” Kadri added.
Following discussions since April 2023, South Korea’s Posco Future M and Honda have reached a basic agreement on collaboration for the production of cathode materials for electric vehicle (EV) batteries in Canada. They will now begin detailed discussions with the goal of signing a joint venture agreement before the end of 2024.
At its Responsible Care & Sustainability Conference on 7 May, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) released a new report, entitled ‘Sustainability Starts with Chemistry’, in order, it said “to highlight the crucial role the chemical industry plays in advancing sustainability progress around the globe”.
Gatemore Capital Management has published an open letter to John O’Higgins, chairman of the board at UK-based speciality chemicals company Elementis, stating that there is “an urgent need for change”. This echoes a letter from another ‘activist’ shareholder in late 2023.
Elementis mainly supplies the personal care sector, notably cosmetic and antiperspirant actives – it is the world market leader in the latter field. 85% of its products are of natural origin. Coatings and paper are other key markets.
Lonza has launched its AI-enabled route scouting service offering for small molecules, which combines AI-enabled computer-aided synthesis planning technology from Elsevier operation Reaxys with its own process R&D expertise and supply chain databases. This aims to streamline synthetic route identification.
Chicago-based CC Industries (CCI) has acquired Foremark Performance Chemicals from SK Capital Partners. No financial details were disclosed. CEO Randy Owens and the rest of the management team will stay in place and Foremark will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity.
Foremark produces proprietary natural gas sweeteners, chemical building blocks and slow-release fertilisers from a highly automated, vertically integrated facility at League, Texas. Its customer base is mainly the Gulf Coast region of the US.
