Tatjana Röder of Aquagroup shows how an effective disinfectant generated in situ can save CO2 and plastic waste
Deutsche Bahn and the German Federal Environment Agency have studied the CO2 footprints of various means of transportation for people and goods respectively. In both cases, they concluded that train is the best and plane the worst in terms of their effects on the environment.1,2
W.R. Grace & Co. has agreed to acquire the Fine Chemistry Services (FCS) business of its fellow US speciality chemicals company, Albemarle, in a deal that is expected to close in Q2, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. This will bring Grace sites at Tyrone, Pennsylvania, and South Haven, Michigan. FCS will fit within Pharma & Consumer, which Grace described as “the largest, fastest growing and most profitable sub-segment” in its Materials Technologies business.
During its annual results presentation, Solvay revealed that it is taking steps to organize its Soda Ash & Derivatives business into a separate legal structure. This is part of the G.R.O.W. strategy, under which the Materials, Chemicals and Solutions segments were each given distinct mandates that reflect the differing dynamics in their markets.
The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) has reported that EU27 chemical production fell by 1.9% from 2019 to 2020. It expects 3% and 22% growth in 2021 and 2022 respectively. However, “longer-term economic outlook remains highly uncertain due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its continued economic impacts”.
Barcelona-based Grupo Indukern has agreed to sell its chemical business, Indukern, to the Ravago Group, subject to regulatory approval. The group said that it had received several offers for the business. Terms were not disclosed.
Based in Luxembourg, family-owned Ravago is mainly a recycler of plastics and rubber but is also active in the coatings, adhesives, sealants & elastomers (CASE), life sciences and care markets. It has operations in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
Seqens will produce the first volumes of an aromatic diamine monomer by means of flow chemistry in its dedicated workshop at SeqensLab in Porcheville, France (pictured), by the end of 2021. This follows a successful first pilot trial in 2020.
Clariant has committed to new 2030 targets to reduce CO2 emissions in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which has validated them. This follows the establishment last year a dedicated unit to accelerate its sustainability transformation. The targets are:
* 40% absolute reductions in Scope 1 (made directly during production) and 2 (emitted indirectly, mainly through consuming steam and electricity) greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emissions on 2019 levels
* A 14% absolute reductions in Scope 3 (other indirect) GHG emissions on 2019 levels
