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Eastman, Sphera work on LCA software

Eastman has joined forces with Sphera, a long-time supplier, on the next generation of Sphera’s life cycle assessment (LCA) automation software. This was launched earlier in 2022 and seeks to enable businesses “to quickly receive holistic, real-time analysis and insights into the environmental footprint of their product portfolios and integrates seamlessly with their existing systems” and thus reduce their greenhouse gas emissions at every step of production.

Kallo gets biological wastewater treatment plant

At a cost of €12 million and in response to environmental legislation, Lanxess has commissioned a new biological wastewater treatment plant at its site at Kallo, near Antwerp. This has a capacity of 260,000 L/hour and also treats wastewater from two other companies. The site makes rubber chemicals and glass fibres.

Green steam for Sasol site

Hamburger Energiewerke, Hamburg’s municipal utility, is to build a biomass cogeneration facility at Sasol Chemicals’ Brunsbüttel site. When fully operational in 2025, this will supply at least 70,000 MW/year of ‘green steam’ to the site, enabling Sasol Chemicals to reduce CO2 emissions by some 13,000 tonnes/year. The company is targeting a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

ACC challenges PFOA/S limits 

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has filed a petition in DC Circuit Court challenging the EPA’s Lifetime Health Advisories (LHAs) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, above) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). These are both part of the much-maligned wider group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Flame retardants do not enhance chronic toxicity hazards in fires, study says

A new study led by Dr Thomas G. Osimitz has concluded that smoke from the combustion of flame-retarded furnishings did not enhance potential chronic toxicity hazards, including cancer. Campaigners have repeatedly claimed that flame retardants in home furnishings and electronics increase the toxicity of smoke produced during combustion in house fires, thus putting firefighters at risk of major long-term health problems.

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