DSM-Firmenich has begun a process to carve-out and separate out the Animal Nutrition & Health (ANH) business because of the different dynamics it faces to the Perfumery & Beauty, Taste, Texture & Health and Health, Nutrition & Care businesses. The process should be completed in the course of 2025. The company said that it believes that a separation would allow it “to strengthen its position as a world-leader in nutrition, health, and beauty”.
Evonik has manufactured the first product from its industrial-scale biosurfactants facility at Slovenská Lupca in Slovakia. This has thereby become the first plant anywhere in the world to produce sustainable rhamnolipid biosurfactants.
Slovenská Lupca produces rhamnolipids via a proprietary fermentation process that uses European corn sugar as the main raw material. They are fully biodegradable, with a low toxicological and ecotoxicological profile, as well as being entirely biobased.
German speciality chemicals group Altana has agreed to acquire the Silberline Group subject to customary closing conditions. Terms are not being disclosed. The business will henceforth form part of Altana’s Eckart division. Based in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, Silberline employs over 450 people and had sales of about $80 million in 2022. It makes effect pigments for applications ranging from automotive coatings and printing inks to plastics, protective coatings and packaged consumer goods.
Japan’s Kao Corporation has introduced a new ‘dynamic cell production system’ for efficient, high-mix, low-volume manufacturing at its global cosmetics facility in Odawara. Test operations finished at the end of 2023, and operations will begin in stages shortly.
Netherlands-based Barentz International, a distributor of life science and speciality ingredients, has acquired Radian Chemical Products of India. Terms were not disclosed and the current team will remain in place, including CEO Manoj Botadra.
Radian is mainly active in niche applications in colour cosmetics and personal care, areas in which Barentz is already active India. Barentz thus expects to reinforce its portfolio and achieve “significant growth potential” across the Asia-Pacific region.
Spain’s Cepsa Chemicals has just launched a new blockchain-based system that will enable it to track the palm and coconut oil it uses as raw material all to the way to use in its production of biodegradable surfactants. The company had launched NextLAB, the world's first sustainable linear alkylbenzene (LAB), earlier this year.
The EU Court of Justice (CJEU) in Luxembourg has dismissed an action by Symrise to annul a decision by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) board of appeal in 2021. The long-running case related to a required compliance check using animal tests on Symrise’s REACH registration dossier for the UV fillers homosalate and 2-ethylhexyl salicylate.
