Evonik leads the way in automated life cycle assessments

Evonik has set a new benchmark for sustainability assessments in the chemical industry. With a TÜV-certified software solution, Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) can now be generated and updated automatically-quickly, consistently, and reliably. Evonik is leading the way for chemical companies to digitize this complex process to such a depth.

The solution enables the calculation of all relevant environmental impacts of Evonik’s products-from carbon footprint and water usage to nutrient discharges into water bodies. “Our customers don’t just want to know how sustainable a product is today-they want to see how it can improve tomorrow. That’s exactly what we deliver with our new solution,” says Florian Böss, Head of Life Cycle Management at Evonik.

Automated calculations are about ten times faster than the previous manual method. Instead of taking weeks, an LCA can now be provided within just a few days. Automated LCAs are already available for more than 1,000 products, with numbers rising rapidly. By 2027, the system will be in use across all business lines.

The solution is scalable and flexible: all environmental indicators can be evaluated at the push of a button. The necessary data is sourced from central company databases or external providers. Technically, the system is based on software from Sphera Solutions, a leading provider of sustainability and operational risk management software. “The chemical industry sits at the heart of a range of value chains, with progress on sustainability in the sector especially critical,” says Naved Siddique, Chief Product Officer at Sphera. “The partnership between Sphera and Evonik demonstrates how scalable, flexible digital solutions can enhance transparency at every stage of the value chain.

The partnership between Evonik and Sphera began last year. In July 2025, TÜV Rheinland confirmed the functionality and accuracy of the automated process. The certification is based on a well-established manual process that has now been digitized. “This builds trust and proves the reliability of our environmental impact data,” Böss adds.

The automated LCAs are not only used for customer communication but also for steering internal sustainability efforts. They support informed decisions on raw material and energy use and help evaluate CO₂ reduction measures from an economic perspective. As part of its sustainability strategy, Evonik has committed to reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 25% by 2030.

By automating the creation of LCAs, Evonik is sending a clear signal of progress and responsibility-setting a technological standard that could resonate far beyond the company itself.

source : Evonik

Mitsui Chemicals Group, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd, and Sumitomo Chemical announced today plans to merging

 Mitsui Chemicals Group, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd, and Sumitomo Chemical announced today plans to merge key parts of their #polyolefin businesses in #Japan to tackle chronic oversupply amid shrinking domestic market.

The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to integrate #Sumitomo Chemical’s domestic #polypropylene (PP) and linear low density polyethylene (#LLDPE) operations into PRIME POLYMER CO.,LTD. Co, an existing joint venture between #Mitsui Chemicals and #Idemitsu Kosan, the Japanese companies said in a joint statement.

The combined entity will have a domestic production capacity of 1.59 million tonnes/year of polypropylene #PP) and 720,000 tonnes/year of polyethylene (PE), up from 1.26 million tonnes/year of PE and 550,000 tonnes/year of PP.

Find more info and detailed PE and PP capacities in Japan in the free full article: https://lnkd.in/dtUdzttP

source : Lorenzo Meazza

Syensqo introduces medical-grade Amodel® polyphthalamide (PPA) for single-use, high-temperature medical devices

A new medical-grade #Amodel® PPA delivers high heat resistance, electrically insulative properties, and biocompatibility for advanced single-use medical instruments and assemblies.

#Syensqo today launched a new medical-grade Amodel® #polyphthalamide (PPA). The glass-filled polymer is engineered for advanced single-use #medicaldevices, delivering exceptional #heatresistance, robust electrical properties, and key biocompatibility requirements for limited contact duration medical applications.

Amodel® PPA features a high melting point above 300 °C and maintains mechanical strength at temperatures up to 280 °C. These properties make it ideal for demanding manufacturing processes such as surface-mount technology (SMT) assembly, infrared (IR) reflow, and metal overmolding. The material is particularly well-suited for #electrosurgical instruments and electronic device assemblies, where complex, injection-molded geometries offer advantages over alternative materials.

source : Syensqo

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : LPG vs LNG

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

⚡ LPG vs LNG – What’s the Difference?

🔹 LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)

✅ Composition:

• Mix of propane (C₃H₈) and butane (C₄H₁₀)

✅ Storage & Temperature:

• Ambient temperature under moderate pressure (5–10 bar) in pressurized tanks

✅ Density & Energy Content:

• Denser (0.55–0.58 kg/L) with higher energy per liter

✅ Applications:

• Cooking (household gas cylinders)

• Heating

• Autogas (vehicles)

• Industrial processes

✅ Safety Considerations:

• Heavier than air: can accumulate in low areas → explosion risk

• Easier to handle and transport than LNG

✅ Source & Production:

• Byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining

⸻

🔹 LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)

✅ Composition:

• Primarily methane (CH₄) with traces of ethane and propane

✅ Storage & Temperature:

• Stored at -162 °C (-260 °F) in cryogenic tanks at atmospheric pressure

✅ Density & Energy Content:

• Lighter (0.45 kg/L) but higher energy per kilogram

✅ Applications:

• Power generation

• Industrial fuel

• Marine fuel (LNG-powered ships)

• Alternative to diesel in heavy transport

✅ Safety Considerations:

• Lighter than air: disperses quickly if leaked, lowering explosion risk

• Requires special cryogenic handling to prevent burns

✅ Source & Production:

• Extracted from natural gas fields, purified, and cooled to liquid

⸻

🔍 Key Takeaway:

While LNG is rapidly emerging as a cleaner industrial and transportation fuel, LPG remains a critical source of energy for domestic and commercial heating, cooking, and vehicle fuel. Both fuels are essential to the global energy mix and have specific handling requirements.

BREAKING: The EU just said NO to textile waste!

BREAKING: The EU just said NO to textile waste!

Here's the deal:

The EU has just passed a law to reduce textile waste and make producers pay for how it is collected, sorted, and recycled.

✍️ Eco-modulation will also reward products designed to last longer or be recycled more easily.

👩‍⚖️ Each EU member state has 20 months to transpose the rules into its national legislation.

♻️ And by April 2028, each member state has to have its own EPR (extended producer responsibility scheme) to enforce the regulation.

🔎 Producers will also have to disclose how much they produce per year by volume (something that activists have been calling for a long time).

This is good news. This will ramp up the collection and recycling.

But the core issue of overconsumption and overproduction remains untouched.

It's a step in the right direction, but more needs to follow.

And you? Do you support this or not?

source : Vojtech Vosecky

#fashion #circulareconomy #wastemanagement

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share :The Next Frontier in Biochar: Composites for a Cleaner Planet✨

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

The Next Frontier in Biochar: Composites for a Cleaner Planet✨

In the face of growing environmental challenges, a new generation of sustainable materials is emerging for pollution abatement and environmental management. While traditional methods often have drawbacks, such as high costs and the production of toxic sludge, biochar-based composites are a promising alternative. Biochar is an excellent adsorbent for environmental applications. The type of feedstock and the #pyrolysis conditions used can significantly influence the properties of biochar.

Despite its inherent strengths, pristine biochar has limitations, including a finite adsorption capacity and poor stability in fine, powdered forms, which makes it challenging to recover from mixtures and can lead to secondary pollution. This has led to the development of biochar composites, which are created by combining biochar with other substances. These composites enhance biochar's performance and functionality by providing tailored properties and improving its selectivity for specific pollutants. For instance, magnetic biochar composites can be easily separated from a solution using an external magnetic field. This feature simplifies the recovery and reuse process, making these composites both practical and cost-effective.

The potential of biochar-based composites for #environmentalmanagement is clear, but further research is urgently needed. A critical next step for researchers is to move from simulated environments to real-world applications. It is also essential to investigate the long-term stability and potential ecotoxicity of these composites, as modifications may introduce new risks. By focusing on these challenges, optimizing production methods, and leveraging #wastematerials, researchers can unlock the full potential of #biocharcomposites for #pollutionabatement and contribute to a healthier, more resilient planet..

🛠️The future of environmental #sustainability rests on your ingenuity. Let's unite to take biochar beyond the soil, transforming it into the ultimate weapon against pollution and a beacon of hope for a cleaner planet. Biochar today is just the beginning of this journey. We are your voice; let the world hear the revolution you're building. Share your thoughts and insights..

These images below tell you the proof and scope .... (Viswanathan, S. P., Kuriakose, G. M., Neelamury, S. P., Njazhakunnathu, G. V., & Paili, T. A. (2023). Biochar-based composites as environmentally sustainable functional materials for wastewater treatment. Reference module in materials science and materials engineering. Doi: https://doi. org/10.1016/B978-0-323-96020-5.00199-0.)

source : Biochar Today

Kineco strengthens global rail strategy by acquiring TRB Lightweight Structures

Kineco Group, a leading Indian company specialised in advanced composite solutions, for aerospace, defence, rail & renewable energy market, announced the #acquisition of TRB Lightweight Structures Ltd (TRBLS), based in Huntingdon, United Kingdom. This acquisition is a key milestone for Kineco Global Rail, the flagship rail business of Kineco Group, and reinforces its strategy to become a global leader in turnkey rail interior systems.

TRB, with over 70 years of expertise in manufacturing lightweight components, is a trusted supplier to leading rolling stock manufacturers in Europe and Asia. The acquisition builds on Kineco’s December 2024 acquisition of Semvac A/S, a premier European brand in railway sanitation systems, marking another step in consolidating marquee brands under the Kineco Global Rail umbrella.

Mr. Shekhar Sardessai, Chairman & Managing Director of #KinecoGroup, commented: “The acquisition of #TRBLightweightStructures is aligned specifically to the long-term strategic roadmap of our rail-focused brand—Kineco Global Rail. TRB’s legacy and deep expertise in lightweight rail interiors make it a perfect strategic fit. Importantly, both TRB and Semvac combined will now be able to ride on the back of Kineco Global Rail’s large engineering and manufacturing infrastructure in Goa, India, which is entirely dedicated to the rail interiors market. This synergy will help us achieve scale, competitiveness, and customer reach across global markets. I wholeheartedly welcome the TRB team into the Kineco family.

Expressing his optimism on the promising future for TRB under this new partnership, Paul Colquitt, Managing Director of TRB Lightweight Structures Ltd said: “This new chapter with Kineco allows us to focus our energy and resources on the rail sector, where our expertise and heritage are strongest. Together, we will build on TRB’s reputation for quality and innovation to deliver even greater value to our customers worldwide.

Kineco and TRB were introduced and advised on this transaction by Mr. Pravin S. Mistry, Global CEO of PREA Ltd. based in Manchester, England.

TRB will continue to operate under its existing brand identity, retaining its leadership and manufacturing footprint in the UK. With access to Kineco Global Rail’s vertically integrated platform, TRB will be better positioned to expand its offerings, improve efficiencies and enter new geographies.

source : Kineco / TRB rail products / JEC Composites