Clariant empowers personal care industry to make natural ingredient choices

Clariant unveils its ground-breaking digital tool, to ease the research and selection of natural ingredients for personal care formulations, said the company.

Powered by standardized data on the Renewable Carbon/Natural Origin indices of over 800 Clariant and non-Clariant ingredients for personal care applications the new tool offers formulators and brands the chance to calculate the percentage natural content of any formulation. What is more, the tool is designed to showcase the individual impact of specific ingredient choices on formulation naturality - a huge advantage for kick-starting future product development.

"BeautyForward is always about understanding and addressing needs in personal care. There is evident increasing consumer preference for natural, specifically plant-based ingredients, as well as a growing expectation for brands to understand and communicate on naturality with transparency. Our calculator equips them to do this, by providing the necessary personal care ingredient data in an intuitive, digital format. We’re proud to support the creation of more sustainable personal care products,” comments Hermann Bach, Global Head of Strategic Marketing and Innovation at Clariant.

As the industry’s focus on developing lower impact beauty grows, Clariant steps up to standardize, quantify and share the naturality of personal care ingredients - including that of over 300 ingredients stemming from their own portfolio. The new tool calculates personal care formulation naturality according to the ISO 16128[1] methodology and offers two options to aid research.

First up, users can create their own new natural formulation from scratch, adding constituent ingredients in their respective quantities by INCI or trade name. Based on this, the individual ingredient’s naturality is provided, following the Renewable Carbon Index (RCI) for carbon-based ingredients, and the Natural Origin Index (NOI) if non-carbon-based. The tool continues by calculating the total formulation naturality based on each ingredient’s contribution.

Alternatively, the users may opt for a more guided approach; the BeautyForward calculation tool comes equipped with a series of exemplary and customizable skin and hair care formulations, with up to 99% naturality. Users can copy the formulations and edit them, playing around with ingredient selection by adding and removing products to find the ideal fit for their needs and percentage natural content targets.

Formulations can be saved within each user’s personal accounts for access and reference at a later date. To support with ingredient research, the tool also makes it possible for users to access more detailed ingredient information, as well as to request samples.

Lummus Technology announced it and its catalyst partner Clariant have been awarded a major contract by Fujian Meide to supply CATOFIN technology and catalysts for a new, world-scale propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit in Fuzhou, China. Already operating one PDH unit at its Fuzhou petrochemical complex, Fujian Meide is now building one of the largest PDH units in the world and has selected the CATOFIN process and catalysts for the project's second phase. The new unit will produce 900,000 mtons of propylene annually and is scheduled to commence operation in 2023.
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Technip Energies has been awarded a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) contract by Viridian Lithium for the construction of the first lithium refining and conversion plant in Europe, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Located in Lauterbourg, France, the plant will produce up to 100,000 tons of Battery Grade lithium chemicals per year – which is the equivalent capacity to power 2 MM electric vehicles – to enable a secure and sustainable battery supply chain for the transition to electric mobility.

The contract consists in a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS), and a preferential right on the construction of the plant and its three foreseen extensions.

Laure Mandrou, Senior Vice President Carbon-Free Solutions of Technip Energies, commented: “We are very excited to start this new journey with Viridian Lithium. It is the beginning of an industrial partnership that is fully in line with Technip Energies' strategy of engineering a sustainable future. We are committed to supportViridian Lithium in the creation of the first French and European Lithium stream."

Remy Welschinger, Co-Founder & President of Viridian Lithium, said: “We are very pleased to partner with Technip Energies to develop a clean and reliable supply chain for batteries to empower the transition to electric mobility.” Purified lithium chemicals are non-substitutable materials for lithium-ion batteries and are strategic materials for the European automotive industry. The Project will increase the supply chain autonomy of our electric vehicle industry. Lithium is one of the four key metals of the energy transition.

As per MRC, Technip Energies and Alterra Energy have now entered into a global joint development and collaboration agreement to integrate Technip Energies’ pyrolysis oil purification technology with Alterra’s commercially available liquefaction process technology. By integrating both their proprietary processes, the two companies aim to accelerate the adoption of recycled feedstock, thus improving circular economy solutions for the global petrochemical industry. The combination of advanced recycling and purification technologies will enable more efficient processing and reuse of hard-to-recycle plastic.

As per MRC, TechnipFMC announced the launch of the placement of 16 million Technip Energies shares, representing ca. 9% of Technip Energies’ issued and outstanding share capital, through a private placement by way of an accelerated bookbuild offering. Upon completion of the Placement, TechnipFMC would retain a direct stake of ca. 22% of Technip Energies’ issued and outstanding share capital.
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BASF’s light stabilizer Tinuvin has been applied by Fujian Atlantis Plastic Products Co. Ltd., a company specialized in the production and processing of plastic products for marine floats, to protect polypropylene (PP) pontoons used by fish farmers in Ningde, Fujian Province of China, said the company.

Like all plastics, PP is susceptible to UV light and heat, which can result in color change, surface cracking, and ultimately, product failure. To make the pontoons resistant to intense sunlight, a light stabilizer such as Tinuvin is added to the polymer during manufacturing. Tinuvin protects the PP pontoons from the negative effects of prolonged exposure to UV light thereby improving its weatherability and extending its lifetime from 3 years to more than 5 years.

"Strong, durable, and safe – these are qualities that should always come to mind when employing a plastic floatation system,” said Hermann Althoff, Senior Vice President, Performance Chemicals Asia Pacific, BASF. “Our UV stabilization products create a stress-crack-resistant platform that maintains the structural integrity of the plastic article for many years"

Ningde in southeast China’s Fujian Province produces most of the country’s cultured seafood. Thousands of fish farmers, who have resided along this coastal area for decades, have transformed this little fishing village into the epicenter of the yellow croaker industry – producing 75 percent of the nation’s total output in 2019.

In aquaculture, floating pontoons interconnected by plastic walkways act as enclosures to raise seafood like shrimp, oysters, and fish. While raising fish, crustaceans, and mollusks in landlocked ponds and fenced-in ocean pens has gone on for decades, what has changed is the traditional solution of low-end, low-cost applications for fish farmers.

As per MRC, BASF and Brookfield have finalized a term sheet for a 25-year renewable electricity supply agreement to purchase solar and wind power for the BASF Zhanjiang Verbund site in China. Under the fixed-price agreement, Brookfield will develop and build dedicated solar and wind farms, as well as possible storage solutions to support the renewable energy demands of BASF site.

We remind that BASF is to increase its production capacity for plastic additives at its sites in Pontecchio Marconi, Italy and Lampertheim, Germany. BASF did not disclose, however, current or future capacities for its production of plastic additives hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS).

BASF is the leading chemical company. It produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries.
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Honeywell launched communications systems and bi-directional amplifiers (BDA) that cover the entire Public Safety spectrum, providing scalable solutions to support first responder emergency radio connectivity even in challenging environments, said the company.

The new products also meet regulations of almost any jurisdiction or city. The expanded Honeywell portfolio includes high power 5W BDAs and Fiber DAS systems; PSC/Digital Fiber DAS with redundancy support; and Digital 700/800 MHz BDAs with an easy-to-use assisted wizard providing automatic calibration features. The portfolio includes a “No Noise” performance that reduces uplink noise and potentially harmful interference to public safety radios, helping to keep communications clear between first responder teams on the ground and in the building to better support their safety.

According to a 2017 International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) survey by the Safer Buildings Coalition, 56% of fire departments have experienced a communications failure in a building during an emergency event, leaving firefighters and other first responders virtually stranded in these situations after losing communications. In-building communications systems, like those offered by Honeywell, enable first responders to stay connected throughout a building that may have a poor radio signal due to Low-E glass windows, energy-saving cladding or wall composition, and even in underground areas such as car parks. In-building communications can also support occupant safety with timely, clear, and accurate notifications of emergencies and recommended responses.

"It’s critical for first responders to stay connected with each other when responding to an emergency – not only so they know how to better respond to the situation but to also provide better protection to those who protect us,” said Alessandro Araldi, general manager, Global In-Building Communications, Honeywell. “We believe that every building should be able to comply with this requirement, so we created BDA systems that are scalable for any building size, can communicate on any public safety band and are easier to install, use and maintain. Making buildings safer is key to our business at Honeywell and we believe they should be safer for anyone who is in them or use them, for any purpose."

As per MRC, Honeywell announced an Emissions Control & Reduction Initiative designed to help customers achieve carbon neutrality in a wide range of areas. The initiative will initially focus on helping oil and gas customers with upstream, midstream and downstream operations to monitor and reduce fugitive methane emissions, which are more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited one of the leading company in petroleum sector in India has been supporting a CSR intervention “Integrated Cancer Care and Cure” in partnership with Indian Cancer Society which encompasses “Preventive” as well as “Curative” dimensions of Cancer Care, said the company.

The project comprises of Cancer Screening camps for Oral, Cervical and Breast Cancer in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra along with financial support for treatment of cancer in through 10 government/non for profit hospitals PAN India as well survivorship & rehabilitation programs for cancer survivors.

BPCL has supported the entire cancer spectrum through its CSR activities. “Ugam”- a voluntary cancer survivors’ support group is an integral part of the overall program which has been formed by Childhood Cancer Survivors who have completed treatment. UGAM means “To Rise”, underscoring the determination of childhood cancer survivors, to rise above all obstacles in life and be VICTORS. UGAM has been set up with an aim to empower the survivors & become the ambassador of the message “Childhood Cancer is Curable” in society. Throughout the year Ugam volunteers are involved in many activities to create awareness of curability of cancer and foster bonding amongst cancer survivor’s fraternity.

700 Cancer screening camps are also supported by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited towards the screening of Oral, Cervical and Breast Cancer at Pune, Kolhapur, Varanasi and Kolkata. These camps would be secerning more than 70,000 beneficiaries over a period of two years.

Under this program, Indian cancer society which is one of the national organization for awareness, detection, cure and survivorship of those affected by cancer, has developed a holistic rehabilitation interventions for optimizing quality of life of underprivileged childhood cancer survivor and bringing them into mainstream society. It also includes establishing survivorship clinics, educational support, vocational skill program and UGAM – support group network of childhood survivorship.

As per MRC, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has set up a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) technology demonstration plant of 200 tonnes per annum at the Kochi Refinery. The plant was inaugurated by BPCL’s executive director in-charge (refineries) Sanjay Khanna, in the presence of other officials. Using the in-house acrylic acid as feedstock, SAP technology is used in various hygiene products such as diapers and other incontinence products.

We remind that in April, 2020, BPCL shipped the first consignment of acrylic acid from its Propylene Derivative Petrochemical (PDP) complex at Kochi Refinery. Acrylic Acid is one of the six niche petrochemical products produced in the new PDP Complex at Kochi Refinery.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC''s ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,265,290 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2021, up by 14% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,363,850 tonnes in January-November, 2021, up by 25% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.
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