Displaying items by tag: Solenis

Tuesday, 24 May 2022 15:43

Solenis Releases 2021 Sustainability Report

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals used in water-intensive industries, has released its 2021 Sustainability Report summarizing the company’s environmental stewardship, social responsibility and governance (ESG) initiatives for the previous fiscal year. The report is available for download at www.solenis.com/en/sustainabilityreport. It’s considered a progress update on company initiatives and baseline data that were first reported from 2020. 

The comprehensive Solenis sustainability report highlights the company’s progress toward environmental stewardship, social responsibility and governance (ESG) goals. The comprehensive Solenis sustainability report highlights the company’s progress toward environmental stewardship, social responsibility and governance (ESG) goals. “Our goal with the Solenis Sustainability Report is to continue providing transparency about our organization while setting targets and tracking the initiatives that keep us accountable along our sustainability journey,” said CEO John Panichella. 

The 2021 report is based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and has been externally validated by an independent certification agency. Important highlights include: 

  • Revisions and prioritization of U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address gender equality, clean water and sanitation, decent work and economic growth, responsible consumption and production, climate action and partnerships for the goals, such as working with employees to address community needs where Solenis operates. 
  • Recognition as a Platinum-rated company by EcoVadis, a leading rating agency in corporate social responsibility and sustainable procurement. The Platinum status indicates that Solenis scored in the Top 1% of chemical companies that were evaluated for sustainability management.  
  • Key measures in the category of Well-being, Health and Safety of Our People showed 820 new hires. Globally, female employees make up 24% of the 5,300-employee workforce and 21% of executive leadership positions are held by women. In the U.S., racial/ethnic diversity makes up 37%. These measures are positive indicators that Solenis is focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and is empowering employees to participate in change and growth.   
  • Health and safety metrics showed 30 work sites having lasted at least one year without a recordable injury, 11 sites were injury free for at least 5 years and 4 sites for at least 10 years. 
  • Solenis launched several key Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives in the past year, including a diverse pipeline and scholarship program and a women’s leadership sponsorship program. Others included an expansion of employee network groups and a celebration of International Women’s Day, Juneteenth and an International PRIDE event. An Allyship program was also introduced to support an inclusive work environment.  
  • Solenis reported on targets and key performance indicators of its sustainability goals that include customer relationships, R&D innovation and digitalization. Each of these goals works as part of a broader initiative to address global issues such as water scarcity, deforestation and climate change.  

“We’re proud to continue showing progress across all of our sustainability efforts and also grateful to learn where we need further emphasis,” said Panichella. “With some of our strongest gains in the area of social performance, along with 820 new hires and a more diverse and more engaged workforce, we are confident we will make further strides toward our goals.” 

To read the 2021 Solenis Sustainability Report and to learn more about the company’s roadmap for sustainability, visit www.solenis.com/en/sustainability/sustainability-roadmap

About Solenis 
Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power, municipal, and pool and spa markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids and functional additives, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact and maintain healthy water. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 47 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 6,000 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. Solenis is a 2022 US Best Managed Company. 

For additional information about Solenis, please visit solenis.com

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Solenis LLC, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, is proud to announce that Contact Energy Limited is a winner of a 2021 Solenis Sustainability Award. Contact Energy’s Wairakei geothermal power plant in Taupō, New Zealand, has received recognition for a project that offset carbon dioxide emissions by around 57,000 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e, which includes methane) over one year, compared to coal. 

Contact Energy’s project was focused on returning an 8-megawatt geothermal well to full production capacity. Buildup of minerals, mostly in the channels through the rocks underground near the well (formation scale), reduced the flow of steam so severely that the well could no longer contribute to the electricity output of the plant.

Any shortfall in low-carbon geothermal electricity generation in New Zealand is made up by fossil fuels, increasing the country’s carbon footprint. Abandoning the well and drilling a new one would cost up to $10 million, which was not a satisfactory option. Cleaning the well with harsh chemicals, such as hydrofluoric acid, was also unattractive because of its cost, aggressive nature, risks to operators and short-term effectiveness, especially on the silica formation scale seen at Wairakei. 

Contact Energy needed a solution and partnered with Solenis field professionals and technical specialists to work on the problem. Solenis recommended a new method of cleaning the rock formation that combined advanced concepts from reservoir engineering, geology and pumping dynamics. The solution used low concentrations of chemicals, high pressure, high flow rates and carefully controlled flow to allow cleaning chemicals to penetrate the fissures in the rock formation and dissolve the scale buildup. 

Trials showed it was so effective that a well’s output capabilities could not only be recovered but expanded. The expansion is attributed to stimulation of the formation near the wellbore by dissolution of rock minerals, creating slightly larger pathways for flow. In addition to the method’s effectiveness, the chemical portfolio developed by the Solenis team performed exceptionally well in geothermal conditions, had a significantly improved safety profile and was far more cost-effective than conventional methods. 

Solenis recognized Contact Energy’s Wairakei geothermal power plant with a 2021 Solenis Sustainability Award for a project that reduced scale and improved power generation, saving around 57,000 tons of CO2 equivalent over one year compared to coal. Solenis recognized Contact Energy’s Wairakei geothermal power plant with a 2021 Solenis Sustainability Award for a project that reduced scale and improved power generation, saving around 57,000 tons of CO2 equivalent over one year compared to coal.

The solution developed by Contact Energy and Solenis produced outstanding results. With the wellbore cleaned of scale, output peaked at 130 percent of the well’s expected recoverable capacity, which translated to an increased power generation of around 50,000 megawatt-hours over the year following the clean.  

Because this geothermal energy source is very low carbon, it has a positive effect on carbon emissions. Estimated emissions from this geothermal generation over that one year are 1,080 tCO2e, significantly less than fossil fuel alternatives. Generating the same power from coal would produce around 58,600 tCO2e, or 23,900 tCO2e from combined-cycle gas. 

Contact Energy was very pleased with the outcome of the project. John Clark, Chief Generation Officer at Contact Energy, said, “Our company strategy is to lead New Zealand’s decarbonization journey, and our renewable generation capacity has a critical role to play. To be able to take our existing operations and continuously improve and deliver better outcomes for the whole of New Zealand is incredibly exciting. We will continue to invest our time and resources to build a better New Zealand for future generations.” 

Solenis was equally pleased by the partnership. Andrew Dine, the New Zealand commercial lead at Solenis, said, “Our company values collaboration. We try to be present with advice for our customers in their water-intensive tasks or long-term strategies. Wherever these goals and sustainability intersect, we’ll be there.” 

The Solenis Sustainability Awards program reviews customer projects completed over the previous 12 months and chooses those delivering high value and high impact. The awards recognize projects in five sustainability categories, including reduced water use, reduced energy use, improved carbon footprint, reduced waste and optimized raw material utilization. To learn more about Solenis and sustainability, visit the Solenis website at: www.solenis.com/en/sustainability/strategic-vision 

About Solenis 
Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power, municipal, and pool and spa markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids and functional additives, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact and maintain healthy water. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 47 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 6,000 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. Solenis is a 2022 US Best Managed Company. 

For additional information about Solenis, please visit solenis.com

About Contact Energy 
Contact Energy is one of New Zealand’s largest energy retailers and generators. The company generated 8.4 terawatt hours of electricity from hydro, geothermal and gas last year and managed more than 550,000 customer connections. Contact Energy’s vision is to build a better New Zealand and play a leading role in the decarbonization of the energy sector and wider economy. 

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Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals used in water-intensive industries, is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2022 US Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies and the achievements of their management teams.  

The 2022 designees are U.S. private companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people and fostering a dynamic, resilient culture, as well as strong financials. This year’s designees continued to propel their businesses forward by prioritizing purpose, investing in their workforces and demonstrating their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

“It is an honor to receive this award in consecutive years. Our key focus continues to be the growth and delivery of sustainable solutions to our customers around the world.  Throughout Solenis, our leaders are dedicated to enhancing employee experiences, supporting customers in their sustainability journeys and creating value across all stakeholder groups. I am proud of our team for achieving these ambitious goals while completing a major acquisition and adjusting to new ownership,” said Philip M. Patterson Jr., Solenis senior vice president and chief financial officer. 

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Applicants are evaluated and selected by a panel of external judges focused on assessing hallmarks of excellence in four key areas: strategy, ability to execute, corporate culture and governance/financial performance. They join a global ecosystem of honorees from more than 40 countries recognized by the Best Managed Companies program. 

About the Best Managed Companies Program 
The Best Managed Companies program is a mark of excellence for private companies. U.S. designees have revenues of at least $250 million. Hundreds of private companies around the world have competed for this designation in their respective countries through a rigorous and independent process that evaluates four key criteria in their management skills and practices — strategy, execution, culture and governance/financials. U.S. program sponsors are Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. For more information, visit www.usbestmanagedcompanies.com.   

About Solenis  
Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power, municipal, and pool and spa markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids and functional additives, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact and maintain healthy water. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 47 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 6,000 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. Solenis is a 2022 US Best Managed Company. 

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Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, will increase prices by 8 to 15 percent on all polyacrylamide polymers and retention aids across the EMEA region, effective February 1, 2022, or as customer contracts allow.

2018 04 24 070924The price increase is required to offset cost increases in raw materials, packaging, energy and transportation. In addition, Solenis continues to face shutdowns and force majeure declarations from key suppliers.

“Solenis is committed to keeping its customers supplied,” said Naama Lilach, Vice President Commercial Operations, Eurasia, Solenis. “Our recent acquisition of the SCL GmbH business, a leading global producer of primary raw materials for cationic polyacrylamide production, is one of many activities we are currently undertaking that will enable us to secure materials and continue serving our customers.”

About Solenis

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power, municipal and pool and spa markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids and functional additives, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact and maintain healthy water. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 47 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 6,000 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. Solenis is a 2021 US Best Managed Company.

For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com

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In an unprecedented move, the companies are open-sourcing the recipe and playbook to encourage all brands to leverage the breakthrough in their manufacturing processes.

Zume, the sustainability solutions company creating economically viable substitutes for single-use plastics, today announced a partnership with Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals. They are open-sourcing a PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) replacement for food packaging manufacturing to food manufacturers and CPG brands across the global market. To see the open-source process, go to: zume.com/pages/freefromPFAS.

In conjunction, Zume is announcing it will no longer manufacture any products that contain PFAS from its California packaging facility, effective immediately, and the company is collaborating with its global partners to ensure that all production globally is PFA-free by the end of 2021.

“Open-sourcing our PFA-free solution creates a path for brands across the world to remove plastics and harmful chemicals from their consumer packaging and single-use goods,” said Zume CEO and Chairman Alex Garden. “Brands have made pledges to remove PFAS and this new launch will enable them to deliver on their promises.”

After nine months of deep collaboration and R&D to create a solution that reduces the need for single-use plastics, Zume and Solenis are open-sourcing the recipe and manufacturing process so that all packaging manufacturers can adopt the technique and speed up the removal of harmful chemicals. This marks an important milestone for the industry, as two major companies unveil the complex process of creating a molded fiber packaging solution that ensures food grease and water resistance without the need for PFAS or harmful chemicals.

“Our goal is to encourage any manufacturer in the world to start using this technology as quickly as possible,” said Solenis CEO John Panichella. “Through this joint initiative with Zume, global brands can meet their commitments to eliminate the use of PFAS faster than ever before.”

The new scientific report cowritten by Zume and Solenis, Putting Forever Chemicals to Rest: An Open-Source Guide to PFAS-Free Packaging, details the findings from both companies’ scientists as they created and tested the new process. The coauthors conclude that products leveraging the new solution will be fully compostable within 90 days of disposal.

The joint team identified five key parameters — thermoforming, freeness, chemistry management, charge management and part formation — for achieving oil and grease resistance, with chemistry that eliminated PFAS and achieved two hours of oil holdout with 60°C oil. By following these process parameters and control strategy, manufacturers around the world will be able to provide end-use consumers with a fully functional product that does not pose a health risk.

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PFAS, largely known as forever chemicals, are used to coat paper and cardboard containers for fast food and to-go boxes and have been linked to potentially harmful health effects, including decreased fertility, weakened immune system response and increased risk for certain cancers, according to the CDC. The Food and Drug Administration has mandated that these substances will not be allowed in the manufacturing of food-contact packaging after January 2024.

News of Zume’s PFA-free open-sourcing comes on the heels of several major moves from the company this year. In June, the company shared global expansion deals with 20+ countries spanning the UK, Europe and Russia, followed by sustainable manufacturing agreements with India’s Parason and Satia Industries in May. Most recently, Zume unveiled a high-profile partnership with Texas-based Jefferson Enterprise Energy to build a $220M, 100% clean energy-powered, sustainable manufacturing plant.

Last month, Delaware-based Solenis announced that it was merging with Sigura in an acquisition by Platinum Equity that was valued at more than $5 billion.

The study’s participants were Pamela Horine, VP Product Research and Compliance, Zume, Inc.; Christopher Dilkus, Senior Research Scientist, Solenis LLC; Cindy Chau, Quality Engineer, Zume Inc.; and Dottie Klein, Assistant Manager Sales, Solenis, LLC.

To see the open-source process, go to: zume.com/pages/freefromPFAS.

To partner with Zume and Solenis, go to: zume.com/pages/brands.

About Solenis

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power and municipal markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids and functional additives, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets and minimize environmental impact. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 41 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of approximately 5,000 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. Solenis is a 2021 US Best Managed Company.

For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com

About Zume

Founded in 2015, Zume is actively reducing the world’s plastic waste with economically viable substitutes for plastic packaging. As creators of the world’s most advanced molded-fiber manufacturing system, Zume is a global provider of sustainability solutions and offers a vast range of sustainable manufactured solutions and services across the food, beverage, healthcare, and CPG categories. For more information, go to zume.com and to see a video of how Zume works, please go here.

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Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, recently launched an informative new blog to help customers and organizations in water-intensive industries. Located at www.solenis.com/en/newsblog, the blog features tips and educational articles for sustainable water treatment and process improvement.

From the use of artificial intelligence in papermaking, to the impact of legislation on sustainable food and beverage packaging, Solenis’ blog covers a range of today’s most pertinent topics for both consumer and industrial markets.

Content will be updated regularly and is authored by Solenis team members, including technical experts and members of the leadership team. Subjects will include sustainability and social responsibility, artificial intelligence in papermaking, changes in food and beverage paper packaging, graphic paper development, tissue and towel production, industrial water treatment, wastewater management and more.

Readers can easily filter articles by industry or browse by themes such as digital solutions, process enhancement, barrier coatings and sustainability.

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“Solenis has long been a trusted partner with the resources to help solve the most complex sustainability challenges,” said Christoph Adami, vice president, Technology and Global Marketing for Solenis. “This new blog allows us to better share our expertise with plant managers, brand owners and others who work in consumer and water-intensive industries so they can manage their resources more efficiently — and more sustainably.”

The blog adds to Solenis’ expanding portfolio of resources for decision-makers. The company also recently launched a new website at www.solenis.com/explore, which offers greater transparency into its sustainability efforts plus easy access to product and solution information, like the Solenis safety data sheet (SDS) library.

For more information, visit the new blog at www.solenis.com/en/newsblog

About Solenis

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power and municipal markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets and minimize environmental impact. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 41 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of approximately 5,000 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. Solenis is a 2021 US Best Managed Company.

For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com

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Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals used in water-intensive industries, recently launched a new redesigned website at solenis.com/explore. The site features enhanced transparency into the company’s sustainability initiatives, easy-to-access product and solution information and an expanded career section.

Website visitors can browse resources related to Solenis’ sustainability work. The site includes a new sustainability and regulatory library that enables easy access to ISO and other regulatory certifications. In addition, visitors can access safety metrics and the company’s annual Sustainability Report. The site also provides information on the Solenis Sustainability Award, a new annual program recognizing customer projects that deliver meaningful, measurable sustainability results. 

The website improves user experience, as well, with a new solution finder tool that makes it easier for customers to get industry-specific information for their operational and sustainability challenges. For example, food and beverage packaging customers can find information about the company’s eco-friendly formulations for paper packaging. Likewise, customers in industrial markets, such as geothermal power and mining, can search for innovative water treatment and process improvement solutions. The site also offers fast access to resources, including a new safety data sheet (SDS) library, as well as case histories and upcoming event schedules.

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Another important element of the site redesign is the addition of a comprehensive careers section. Prospective employees can now search for Solenis career opportunities globally. The site also allows students and graduates to access information on internships, apprenticeships and the company’s world-class sales technology application rotation (STAR) program. The expanded careers section features information about the company’s diversity and inclusion commitment as well. 

“With easy-to-find resources and expanded access to our environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts, our new website reflects our position as a global solutions provider helping water-intensive customers manage their resources,” said John Panichella, Solenis CEO. “It allows us to better showcase our innovative products and solutions, recruit the industry’s top talent and provide transparency into our commitment to sustainable growth.”

The website will be updated regularly with the company’s latest products, innovations, news and events. Solenis is also planning a new blog and website versions in several additional languages.

For more information about Solenis, visit the new website at solenis.com/explore.

About Solenis

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, paper, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power and municipal markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of process, functional and water treatment chemistries, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets and minimize environmental impact. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 39 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of approximately 5,200 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. For additional information about Solenis, please visit solenis.com/explore

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