ThepurposeofTfS is todevelopand implementaglobal auditprogram toassessand
improvesustainabilitypracticeswithinthesupplychainsofthechemical industry.Such
supply chains are underpinned by strong partnerships and the commitment of their
participantstoprotecttheenvironmentandthesafetyandhealthoftheiremployees,pro-
videproperworkingconditions,makeapositivecontributiontothesubsistenceoftheir
employeesandcommunities,andoperate in full compliancewiththeapplicable laws.
TfSmembershavecombined theirknowledgeanddevelopedaprogram that includes
sustainabilityassessmentsandauditsandsharedtheirresults inordertotakefulladvan-
tageoftheindustry’spotentialsynergies.Allovertheworld,TfSmembercompanieshave
conductedmore than8,000assessments andaudits. “The initiativeplans to set such
benchmarks in thesupplychainascanencompass thepillarsof sustainabilityand lead
to relevant long-termgains forcompaniesand theirsuppliers.Ouraim isa responsible
procurementofgoodsandservices,aswellas improvingtheenvironmentalandsocial
standardsofsupplierstothechemical industriesaroundtheglobe,”saysTfSpresident
RuedigerEberhard.
Opening-SolvayOpensIndustrialBiotechnologyLaboratoryinBrazil
TheSolvayGrouphasopened inBrazil itsfirst fullydedicated IndustrialBiotechnology
Laboratory (IBL) to boost the development of innovations and solutions based on
sustainablechemistry.
The fully integrated laboratory inPauliniawill chiefly focusonresearchingnewproces-
sesandmoleculesderivedfrombiomass,which ismostlyplantorvegetablebasedand
abundantlyavailable inBrazilwith its favorableclimateandvastsurface.
In linewithSolvay’sglobal innovationstrategy,creatingthisnew laboratory inBrazilwas
anatural choice forthegroup’smanagement.“Withthis laboratorySolvaycan further
nourish its innovationportfolio, using renewable resources,with tailored solutions to
meetsustainabilitydemandsfromcustomers inmultipleend-markets.ThankstoBrazil’s
widevarietyofbiomass, competitiveagriculturalbusinessesandbiotechexpertisethe
country has all the required conditions todevelop and growproducts and solutions
basedonrenewableresources,”sayssaidLouisNeltner,Solvay’sResearch&Innovation
Groupgeneralmanager.
TheIBLwillplayanimportantroleintheSolvayGrouptoenhancesustainableinnovations,
oneof thecornerstonesof thecompany’sgrowth. “This laboratory isbeing launched
basedon thealignmentofour innovationstrategywith theopportunities thecountry
provides in this area, inahighly competitiveenvironment,” saysThomasCanova, the
SolvayGroup’sResearch& Innovationdirector forLatinAmerica.
Solvay’sambition is topermanentlyprovidesocietywithnewsolutions in the formof
technologiesandproductsthatwillhelptotacklethemajorchallengesfacingtheworld
today, such as the increaseddemand for healthcare andwell-being, climate change,
shortageofresources,andtheentryofmorethanonebillionpeople intotheconsumer
market.
Thenew laboratory isgoingtowork inpartnershipwithSolvay’sglobalbusinessunits,as
wellasthegroup’s15researchand innovationcentersandrelatedexternalpartners. It
ishousedbyabuildingcovering600squaremetersandhasstate-of-the-artequipment.
The IBL is staffed by a highly qualified team of researchers, comprising technicians,
doctorsandexternal collaborators linkedwith researchprograms thatarecarriedout
inpartnershipwithseveralpublicandprivate institutions.Thenewunithashadasolid
researchprogram inprogress from theoutset, includingprojects in connectionwith
scentsandfragrances, inorganicmaterials,surfactants,solventsandcellulosederivatives
tomeetthedemands fromthedifferentmarketsservedbythecompany.
