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Three in green energy deals

Three speciality chemicals companies signed agreements to source more renewable electricity for key sites in February. In Europe, Evonik concluded separate long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) for solar and wind power, while Arkema signed multiple agreements covering four main sites in the US and Sasol and Air Liquide have concluded a third PPA in South Africa.

Metabolomics ‘viable for grouping’

A consortium of scientists has published what it calls “a more robust way of grouping chemicals and using read-across for toxicological data to meet regulatory requirements”, based on the use of metabolomics. This could greatly reduce animal testing, they added.

Consortium to study NAMs

ECHA has contracted a consortium led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology & Experimental Medicine (ITEM) to conduct scientific studies on the reliability and relevance of new approach methodologies (NAMs) as alternatives to animal testing and to promote their use. This will run for six years, with €4.2 million in ECHA funding.

Create special committee, ACC asks Biden

Chris Jahn, president and CEO of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), has written a letter to President Joe Biden requesting him to create an inter-agency policy committee (IPC) led by the director of the White House National Economic Council, to coordinate an economic impact analysis of regulations on the chemical industry and the broader economy.

CEFIC presents white paper for innovation

CEFIC has published a white paper presenting “a roadmap to unleash the full potential of innovation in the chemical industry”. The association said that  harnessing this potential will require making the innovation framework smarter, using high-quality science, technological innovation and collaborative policies that prioritise openness and pragmatic outcomes while embracing innovative approaches”.

The white paper lists six pre-conditions that must be in place to fully reap the benefits of a smart innovation policy framework:

Monsanto hit by PCB verdict

A jury has ordered Bayer subsidiary Monsanto to pay $73 million in compensatory damages and $784 million in punitive damages to seven former students and two parent volunteers at Sky Valley Education Centre in Monroe, Washington State, for health damage caused by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) it supplied.

Neste to convert refinery for renewables

Neste has completed a strategic study it launched in September 2022 and is now beginning a gradual transformation of its crude oil refinery in Porvoo, Finland, into a “renewable and circular solutions refining hub”. This will take place in phases and is expected to be complete in the mid-2030s at a cost of around €2.5 billion.

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