Page 161 - CW E-Magazine (26-12-2023)

News from Abroad

PARTNERSHIP
Neste and Eppendorf join forces to develop new

line of renewable lab plastics

Finland-based renewable chemi- balancing approach is applied to
cals and fuels maker, Neste, is partner- allocate the renewable content to the
ing with Eppendorf, a German manu- products. Following the launch of the
facturer of laboratory equipment, to first range of ‘Eppendorf Consumables
advance the development of lab pro- BioBased’, the collaboration aims to
ducts made with renewable raw mate- continue innovating and driving the
rials. adoption of more sustainable materials
in the laboratory and scientific research
The life science industry is a sub- sectors. In addition to renewables, the
stantial consumer of single-use plas- partners will also evaluate options to
tics, and the two partners recognised ing to reduce their carbon footprint by leverage chemical recycling to both
the urgent need for more sustainable replacing fossil crude oil in the value recycle Eppendorf’s lab consumables
solutions. chain. and enable recycled content in the
consumables’ production.
The partnership has resulted in The ‘Eppendorf Consumables Bio-
the creation of a new line of renew- Based’ portfolio comprises Eppendorf “Laboratory applications come
able plastic lab consumables called Tubes with screw caps plus epT.I.P.S. with high quality requirements for the
‘Eppendorf Consumables BioBased’. BioBased filter pipette tips, made of materials used. The cooperation with
The consumables, e.g., tubes, are manu- certified polypropylene-based upon Eppendorf shows that despite these
factured using Neste RE, a feedstock pro- renewable raw materials. requirements, a transition to more sus-
duced from 100% renewable raw mate- tainable materials is already possible.
rials, for example used cooking oil. Neste RE feedstock is used to pro- It just takes will and cooperation to get
duce the tubes, while the screw caps there,” said Ms. Maria Carcolé, Head
The consumables thereby repre- and pipette tips are made in coope- of Brand Owner Management at Neste
sent a sustainable choice for labs seek- ration with other suppliers. A mass Renewable Polymers and Chemicals.

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION
Sika opens technology centre in China

Swiss speciality chemicals firm, The facilities in the new centre centre Suzhou, near Shanghai, is Sika’s
Sika, has opened a new Technology comprise cutting-edge labs for the second-largest technology centre,
Centre in Suzhou, China, involving a development of adhesives and sea- offering roughly 9,000-sq.m. usable
“double-digit million Swiss Francs” lants. space. Approximately 150 experts at
investment. the centre will be engaged in develop-
In addition, research infrastruc- ing Sika’s technologies of tomorrow.
The centre’s main focus is on ture has been established for concrete
advancing sustainable solutions for admixtures and CO reducing cement Sika operates more than 20 global
2
construction and industry and, in technologies. Furthermore, a number technology centres and 100 develop-
particular, on research into mate- of laboratories are dedicated to deve- ment and applications centres.
rials technologies for renewable loping innovative solutions for the con-
energies, such as solar and wind struction and automotive sectors. The company has over 1,800
power, as well as in energy storage and employees working in research and
e-mobility. After the centre in Zurich, the new development.

Chemical Weekly December 26, 2023 161

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