ECHA has published the first database of substances of very high concern in products (SCIP) in the EU. This aims to enable consumers “to make more informed purchasing choices and help waste operators to further develop the re-use of articles and the recycling of materials,” the agency said.

Oslo-based biotech Circa Group has signed an agreement with French energy producer GazelEnergie. Under this, it will repurpose the former Emile Huchet coal-fired power station site, adjacent to the Carling Saint-Avold platform in north-eastern France, to make its Cyrene brand of renewable solvent at commercial scale.

CEM and AmbioPharm, two firms based in the Carolinas, have formed a partnership for the production of GMP peptides for the pharmaceutical industry. Under this, AmbioPharm will have exclusive rights to use CEM’s large-scale microwave technology for solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) at up to multi-kilogram quantities using proprietary scalable reactors.

At its virtual capital markets day on 9 September, Merck KGaA announced that it aims to increase group sales by 6%/year to about €25 billion/year by 2025. To this end, investment, which will increase by 50% in the  years 2021-2025 compared to 2016-2020.

“We will continue to consistently and purposefully invest in areas that make us strong,” said CEO and executive board chair Belén Garijo (pictured). Merck will also seek targeted acquisitions, which are most likely to be small to medium-sized.

Following a digital pitch day and evaluation by an internal panel, Heraeus has launched its third ‘accelerator programme with five start-ups, who will have access to its research laboratories, test equipment and customer and partner network. The focus is on products for the semiconductor and precious metals industries.

Mitsui Chemicals Agro, the agrochemicals subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals, has agreed to acquire the agrochemicals business of its Japanese compatriot Meiji Seika Pharma. No financial details were disclosed, other than that the impact on total sales is expected to be minor.

The acquired business is based in Tokyo with a manufacturing subsidiary in Iwate and six branch offices, employing 110. It will be fully integrated into Mitsui Chemicals Agro. The company offers various formulations, including:

* Probenazole, the world’s first systemic acquired resistance type fungicide

In speciality chemicals, doing your MA&D ‘homework’ means much more than it used to, says Lauren McCallum, solution manager for SAP’s Chemical Industry business unit