Page 173 - CW E-Magazine (8-4-2025)

News from Abroad

GREENER INGREDIENTS
Royal Society of Chemistry-led initiative launched

to advance sustainable polymers in liquid formulations

Experts from some of the world’s of these chemical ingredients commit-
biggest companies – including Unilever ting their expertise and resource to help
and BASF – are joining forces with clean them up and create new tools and
leading academics, trade associations, knowledge that will benefit business, the
research institutes and policymakers environment and society as a whole.”
under a new initiative catalysed by the
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) of Under the new formal structure of
UK to reduce the environmental im- the ‘Sustainable PLFs 2040’ initiative,
pact of polymers in liquid formulations a foresight and coordination group will
(PLFs). be responsible for overseeing delivery
against a roadmap previously published
PLFs are key ingredients found in a by the RSC. The group will collaborate
wide range of products, from cosmetics, across sectors while fostering inclusive
personal care and household cleaning decision-making, and driving coordi-
products to paints, coatings and water encounter PLFs every single day, but nated actions that lead to long-term,
treatment. Members of the new ‘Sus- in terms of research and development sustainable change.
tainable PLFs 2040’ initiative will col- they are the ‘forgotten’ group of poly-
laborate to revolutionise the way PLFs mers. There is an urgent need to make The group is initially comprised
are made, used and disposed of by 2040. them more sustainable by developing of: Prof. Massey Brooker; Prof.
biodegradable alternatives and deve- Andreas Künkel and Dr. Martin Klatt
These PLFs are worth $125-bn loping circular economy infrastructure from BASF; Dr. Paul Jenkins from
each year and are essential to making to stop the waste of these valuable Unilever; former RSC president Prof.
millions of products work – but al- chemicals, which in many cases, go Gill Reid from the University of
most none of the 36-million tonnes of directly down the plughole. We cannot Southampton; Prof. Matthew Davidson
these near ubiquitous chemicals are overstate the scale of the challenge – from the University of Bath; Dr. Jen
recovered or recycled after use. Prof. so it’s tremendous to have so many of Vanderhoven from the BBIA; and
Anju Massey-Brooker, RSC, said, “We the world’s largest producers and users Dr. Damian Kelly from Croda.

DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
DKSH announces acquisitions in Taiwan and Korea

Swiss market expansion services molecular biology, genetic engineer- solutions. MDxK specialises in provid-
provider, DKSH, has announced acqui- ing, and cell-based therapies. Founded ing solutions for molecular diagnostics,
sitions by its Technology business unit in 2002, Taqkey is headquartered in cellular analysis, structural biology, and
in Taiwan and South Korea. Miaoli, Taiwan. Together with Quan- biobanking. “The acquisition of MDxK
tum, the company employs more than further strengthens the Technology busi-
In Taiwan, DKSH has agreed to 60 people and has built longstanding ness unit’s position in the molecular diag-
acquire Taqkey Science and Quantum relationships with renowned blue-chip nostics market, further complementing its
Biotech, two life science reagent & clients from the life science industry. scientific workflow solutions and solidi-
consumables distribution companies. The Group operates seven sales offices fying its position in the life science sec-
DKSH said the move will help its Tech- and three warehouses across Taiwan. tor in South Korea,” the company said.
nology business unit further extend its MDxK serves a wide range of custo-
scientific solutions and consumables In the second development, DKSH mers, including hospitals, research insti-
businesses. The distributed products en- has agreed to acquire MDxK, a South tutes, laboratories, universities, pharma
compass reagents and consumables for Korean provider of advanced scientific and food & beverage companies.

Chemical Weekly April 8, 2025 173

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