Dr Ilham Kadri, CEO of Syensqo, has succeeded BASF’s Dr. Martin Brudermueller as president of CEFIC. In accepting the position, she described this as “a pivotal moment for Europe and Europeans, industry at large and the European chemical industry itself. “I therefore very much look forward to supporting the next generation of European politicians and the new European Commission leadership. If I can relate one message already right now – go vote in June! It is crucial,” Kadri added.

CEFIC sector group the European Fine Chemicals Group (EFCG), which represents some 350 API and fine chemical sites in Europe, has joined the Critical Medicines Alliance. This is a European Commission initiative that seeks to bring stakeholders together to share challenges and determine the most suitable actions to rebuild resilience in European medicine supply chains

The first joint Europe-wide assessment of the drivers and impact of chemical pollution by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has concluded that, despite progress in some areas, “more work is still needed to reduce the impact of harmful substances on human health and the environment”. Key findings include:

* The transition towards safer and more sustainable chemicals is progressing in some areas but just getting started in others

CEFIC has published ‘Safe and Sustainable by-Design (SSbD): A Guidance to Unleash the Transformative Power of Innovation’. The guidance can be accessed on the association website

This is based on insights from the chemical industry and bodies such as European Commission and its Joint Research Centre, the OECD, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. It offers specific activities for different phases of industrial R&D to help the industry move towards “a sustainable, circular, and inclusive economy” by 2050.

CEFIC has published a white paper presenting “a roadmap to unleash the full potential of innovation in the chemical industry”. The association said that  harnessing this potential will require making the innovation framework smarter, using high-quality science, technological innovation and collaborative policies that prioritise openness and pragmatic outcomes while embracing innovative approaches”.

The white paper lists six pre-conditions that must be in place to fully reap the benefits of a smart innovation policy framework:

CEFIC joined other associations representing Europe’s clean technology industries and their key material suppliers to send a joint letter to European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of a European Council summit. This called for “urgent and comprehensive action from the EC and Member State governments to maximise the growth potential of the Green Deal and ensure a compelling business case for clean energy supply chains in Europe, from the raw material to the product”.

Kemira president and CEO Jari Rosendal died after a short illness on 31 July. He was 58. The company had announced that he had gone on sick leave on 11 July and a week later said that he would step down by 2024 at the latest. CFO Petri Castrén is acting as interim president and CEO while a successor is sought.