Solvay launches IUCN RHINO pilot at its soda ash and sodium bicarbonate plant in France

Solvay is taking a foundational step to translate global biodiversity goals into verifiable, local actions by launching a pilot of the IUCN RHINO (Rapid, High-Integrity, Nature-positive Outcomes) approach at its soda ash and sodium bicarbonate manufacturing site in Dombasle, France, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

This initiative is a direct outcome of Solvay's partnership with IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature).

Solvay is one of six pioneers testing this rigorous, science-based framework, which aims to develop a replicable blueprint for effective biodiversity actions across global operations. The IUCN RHINO approach, by integrating the Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric, helps Solvay systematically screen site impacts, set evidence-based targets, and accurately measure contributions to species survival and ecosystem health.

The Dombasle site was selected for this pilot due to its existing biodiversity roadmap. This provides a crucial real-world laboratory to test and refine the IUCN RHINO approach. Furthermore, the site is undergoing a major sustainability transformation, including a significant energy transition project, the piloting of the e. Solvay process to reduce natural resource and energy consumption, cut CO2 emissions, and eliminate residues, as well as targeted water initiatives - making it the ideal hub for testing a comprehensive, replicable blueprint for biodiversity actions across Solvay’s wider network, particularly those sites associated with soda ash production.

Jean-Charles Djelalian, Solvay’s Chief Sustainability Officer, commented on the importance of this measured approach: "As a science-based company, we value expert insights that help us move from ambition to action. We are honored to pilot the RHINO approach and STAR metric in Dombasle, establishing a foundation of credible indicators and shared criteria to deliver tangible positive impacts for nature across our global operations. Our partnership with IUCN brings our strategy to the next level, in line with our commitment to allocate 30% of our land located near biodiversity-sensitive areas to support nature conservation and restoration by 2030."

The Dombasle roadmap details targeted, high-impact actions. These include defining SMART1 objectives for biodiversity gains, implementing compensatory measures like establishing ecological corridors, and prioritizing proactive management by eliminating ecological traps and potential environmental hazards. The plan involves comprehensive ecological inventories, a critical review of site initiatives that extend restoration efforts beyond regulations, the initiation of regional connectivity programs including invasive species management and actively exploring options to reduce the impact of discharged water.

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BASF and funds managed by global investment firm Carlyle, in partnership with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), have entered into a binding agreement relating to BASF’s automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinish coatings and surface treatment businesses (BASF Coatings), as per Chemweek.

The enterprise value of the transaction amounts to €7.7 billion. Subject to customary regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close in Q2 2026. This transaction, together with the already closed divestiture of the decorative paints business, value BASF’s entire Coatings division at an enterprise value of €8.7 billion and an implied 2024 EV/EBITDA multiple before special items of approx. 13x. This represents a significant step in unlocking the value of BASF’s standalone businesses, as the company swiftly executes its Winning Ways strategy. BASF will also reinvest in the coatings business holding a 40% equity stake and will receive pre-tax cash proceeds of approx. €5.8 billion at closing of the transaction.

BASF Coatings is a global player in the development, production and marketing of innovative and sustainable automotive OEM and refinish coatings as well as applied surface treatments for metal, plastic and glass substrates in a wide range of industries. The business operates in Europe, North America, South America and Asia Pacific, and generated sales of approx. €3.8 billion in 2024.

Working closely alongside management, Carlyle will support the future growth of the business through investing in its commercial capabilities, innovation pipeline, and organizational structure to enhance customer focus. Carlyle will leverage its strong track record and extensive experience in successful carve-outs of industrial and chemical assets, following previous investments in Axalta, Atotech, and Nouryon.

“We are delighted to partner with Carlyle, whose sector expertise, carve-out capabilities and collaborative approach will help position BASF Coatings for long-term success,” said Dr. Markus Kamieth, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. “By retaining an equity stake, we are showing our belief in Coatings’ future value creation and upside potential. The passion, expertise, and customer focus of our Coatings team is what makes this business outstanding.”

“The transaction announced today opens a new chapter of opportunity for BASF Coatings, building on today’s success and shaping an even stronger future,” said Anup Kothari, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE and responsible for the Coatings division.

“BASF Coatings is an exceptional platform with leading technologies, a world-class management team, strong customer partnerships, and a truly global footprint,” said Martin Sumner, Global Head of Industrials, and Tanaka Maswoswe, Partner at Carlyle. “We see compelling opportunities to leverage our global platform to support the business becoming an established independent leader. This transaction exemplifies Carlyle’s ability to execute complex carve-outs in partnership with leading global corporates.”

“QIA is pleased to partner with Carlyle to support the next phase of BASF Coatings’ continued growth,” said Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA. “This investment aligns with QIA’s approach of investing in industry leaders and is testament to our belief in the long-term resilience of German businesses.”

Business continuity for customers will be ensured throughout the transaction process. In accordance with legal requirements and local practice, employee representatives will be involved.

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Europe’s global market share of plastics production has collapsed from 22% in 2006 to just 12% in 2024, according to latest annual data from industry body Plastics Europe, as per Chemweek.

Industry sales have also fallen by 13% over the past three years, shrinking from €457 billion in 2022 to €398 billion in 2024, Plastics Europe said Oct. 8 in a briefing at the K 2025 plastics trade fair in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The figures “confirm the rapid and continuing decline in the competitiveness of European plastics manufacturing,” and leave the industry “on the brink” of collapse, it said.

Despite a modest stabilization of European production volumes in 2024, which saw total volumes lift by 0.4% year over year, to 54.6 million metric tons (MMt), this slight rise followed a record slump in 2023 when volumes plunged by 7.6% compared to the previous year, it said. European plastic production volumes were as high as 62.3 MMt in 2018.

The decline in Europe “contrasts starkly with the industrial boom taking place in other regions,” it said.

Global plastics production rose by 4.1% year over year in 2024, to 430.9 MMt, and has grown by 16.3% compared to 2018’s global total of 370.6 MMt, according to Plastics Europe. Asia now produces 57.2% of the world’s plastics, with China alone accounting for 34.5%, almost three times that produced by the entire European Union. Fossil fuel-based plastics made up 387 MMt of the global total, or almost 90%, the association’s data show.

Europe’s previously leading role in circular plastics is also being eclipsed by China and the wider Asian region. Although circular plastics accounted for 15.4% of EU production in 2024, this figure “reflects a sharp 18.9% decline in fossil-based production since 2018, rather than a significant expansion in circular production,” it said. Fossil fuel-based plastics volumes in Europe of 43.3 MMt in 2024 represented almost 80% of total production.

Total EU circular plastics production last year remained flat at 8.4 MMt. Mechanical recycling increased by 2.7% to 7.7 MMt, while chemical recycling remained static at 110,000 metric tons, and bio-based plastics declined by 25% to 600,000 metric tons.

Global circular plastics production, however, surged to 43.9 MMt last year, breaching the 10% threshold of total global output for the first time, it said. China alone produced 13.4 MMt of circular plastics in 2024, “nearly double Europe’s volume,” it said.

“The European plastics industry is at a cliff edge as competitiveness collapses. The alarm bells should be ringing in the European Commission and EU capitals,” Virginia Janssens, managing director of Plastics Europe, said Oct. 8.

Keeping a sufficient level of local production avoids excessive dependence and strengthens Europe’s security she said. “Our political leadership must decide whether Europe wants to develop the world’s first circular plastics system or decarbonize through further deindustrialisation. The Clean Industrial Deal cannot be implemented fast enough,” she said.

“Our decarbonization and circular transition is stalling in the absence of clear policy support,” Janssens said, adding that all available recycling technologies as well as effective market-pull measures are needed.

Europe’s plastics manufacturers face crippling energy costs, climate-related taxes and high feedstock prices, which the association said are “eroding the industry’s competitiveness and accelerating ongoing asset sales and closures.”

The EU27’s trade deficit in plastics has improved marginally, it noted, narrowing from a deficit of 800,000 metric tons in 2023 to a deficit of 200,000 metric tons in 2024. This was supported by a 10% increase in exports. The EU exported 13.1 MMt of plastics in 2024 and imported 13.3 MMt.

“However, changing global tariff regimes continue to pose a very significant threat. The United States is the largest source of polymer imports into Europe, accounting for 18.9% of the market, and the fourth largest export market for EU polymers, accounting for 7.7% of the market,” it said.

Plastics Europe President Benny Mermans described Europe’s plastics industry as being in a “pivotal” moment, and called for urgent political support and regulatory frameworks. “While innovation and investments accelerate on other continents, Europe faces softened turnover and slowed production. Our region needs urgent political support and frameworks to reinvigorate investment and secure resilient and competitive supply chains. Europe must act now,” he said.

The organization is calling for EU and national governments to take urgent action on several fronts, including addressing Europe’s energy cost crisis, strengthening the enforcement of EU border legislation, and promoting investment in circular plastics production in Europe.

Strong market demand for circular plastics must be fostered through ambitious recycled-content targets and other incentives, it said.

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Clariant has completed the construction of a second production line for halogen-free flame retardants at its Daya Bay facility, Guangzhou, China, the company said in a statement Oct. 9, as per Chemweek.

Clariant has invested CHF100 million in this project, it said. The new production line will be fully operational in November, it added.

Details about the capacity the new line adds were not disclosed, but the company said the expansion will support growing demand for more sustainable flame-retardant solutions in Asia and globally, especially in the rapidly expanding e-mobility sector.

In addition, Clariant has announced the expansion of its flame retardant portfolio, marketed under the brand name Exolit OP, with two new solutions specifically designed for polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) applications in e-mobility, the company said.

“These innovations are particularly significant as the e-mobility industry transitions to higher voltage systems of 800 V and above, requiring materials with superior electrical insulation properties and long-term stability under demanding conditions,” Clariant said.

The new halogen-free flame retardants offer manufacturers an alternative to traditional systems based on antimony trioxide (ATO), which has experienced dramatic price increases and supply chain volatility in recent years, Clariant added.

"By offering halogen-free and ATO-free alternatives that don't require fluorinated polymers like PTFE, we are enabling our customers to meet growing OEM environmental requirements while maintaining reliable supply chains," said Mariano Suarez, head/ marketing additives at Clariant.

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Johnson Matthey PLC has provided a trading update with a statement on Oct. 9 and said the outlook for the full year 2025 is expected to reach the higher end of the company’s initial guidance of mid-single-digit growth in pro forma underlying operating profit at constant precious metal prices and constant currency, as per Chemweek.

This outlook excludes the company’s catalysts technologies and value businesses, it said. For the 2025–26 fiscal year, the catalyst technologies will be reported as a discontinued operation, following the company’s agreement in May to sell the business to Honeywell International Inc., Johnson Matthey said.

“We continue to make progress on both regulatory approvals and the carve-out of the business, and expect the transaction to complete by the first half of calendar year 2026,” the company said.

The company also noted that for the remainder of the 2025–26 fiscal year, it now expects a net benefit of approximately GDP10 million to full-year operating performance compared with the prior year if precious metal prices and foreign exchange rates remain at their current levels. It previously expected a GDP5 million net adverse impact, it said.

Johnson Matthey expects strong performance in underlying operating profit for the first half of the year, excluding the catalyst technologies and value businesses, driven by ongoing efficiency improvements, together with strong trading in the platinum group metals services business, the company said.

The first-half underlying operating profit of the catalyst technologies business is expected to be “materially” down year over year, impacted by weaker demand for catalysts and the timing of licensing wins in key end markets, Johnson Matthey said.

“The long-term growth potential for this business remains strong, with additional large-scale project wins in the half and a healthy project pipeline in our sustainable technologies portfolio,” the company added.

The company will announce its half-year results for the six months ended Sept. 30, 2025, on Nov. 20, 2025.

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