International News

Kao Opens Eco-Technology Research Center

JAPAN: Kao Corporation has completed construction of the Eco-Technology Research Center (ETRC) and the Kao Eco-Lab Museum at its Wakayama Plant.

The ETRC has three research facilities with an approximate aggregate floor area of 23,000 square meters, making it the largest scale among Kao’s research facilities in the country. The facilities include a seven-story ETRC Main Building, which is the heart of the research center and also houses the Kao Eco-Lab Museum; the Pilot Research Building for research into scaling up product manufacturing processes; and the Plant Biomass Research Building for research into plant cultivation.

A greenhouse in the Plant Biomass Building will cultivate more than 80 species of oil plants, including oil and coconut palms. Learning more about these plants’ life cycles will assist Kao’s research into next-generation plant raw materials.

Within ETRC, a new organization, Eco-Innovation Research Laboratories, has been established to begin eco-innovation research centering on the development of functional materials, according to Kao. Focal research themes include sophisticated use of renewable raw materials such as plant-derived biomass, development of non-edible oil plants, and development of fundamental technologies for water-saving products.

Additionally, Kao said it will strive to develop next-generation environmental technology.





Fire Damages Revlon Facility in Venezuela
VENEZUELA: Revlon, Inc. said a June 5 fire destroyed a substantial portion of its facility in Venezuela. The company said the facility was not operating at the time of the blaze, and no employees were on site.
During 2010, Revlon’s Venezuelan subsidiary accounted for 3% of the company’s consolidated net sales and its total assets were approximately 3% of the company’s total assets.



Gage of CPL Aromas Is President of British Society of Perfumers
UNITED KINGDOM: CPL Aromas perfumer Tim Gage has been elected president of the British Society of Perfumers (BSP).

“I feel flattered to have been elected to the position of president. I’m looking forward to serving the BSP for the next 12 months and maintaining the high standards set by my predecessors,” said Gage.

Gage’s first job in the industry was as a perfumer’s assistant at Bush Boake Allen almost 27 years ago and has been working at CPL Aromas for nine years.

CPL Aromas, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has an established tradition of supporting the BSP. The company’s first chairman, Jack Pickthall, was a founding member of the BSP, and later became one of its few honorary members.



La Roche-Posay Earns Public Education Award
CANADA: On June 1, La Roche-Posay launched its official Facebook page as the second part of an online public health campaign developed to educate Canadians about the risks and causes of skin cancer. Now in its second summer of operation, the campaign was awarded the Public Education Award from the Canadian Dermatology Association.

Rhodia, Sibur Form Surfactants JV in CIS
FRANCE: Rhodia and Sibur, a Russian petrochemical company, have signed a letter of intent to create a joint venture in specialty surfactants.

This strategic alliance will focus on creating a leader in the CIS market where specialty surfactants are widely used in home and personal care as well as the oil and gas industries, according to Rhodia.

The evolution of consumer demand for more sophisticated and segmented products, such as shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, and laundry and household detergents, and the need for high performance solutions in oil and gas extraction fields are driving volume growth of specialty surfactants in the CIS region.

Rhodia will provide its expertise in surfactant technologies, its knowledge of formulations and market applications and its customer network, including global key accounts with a strong presence in this region.

Sibur will contribute its raw materials, production and logistics capabilities. With its longstanding experience of the Russian petrochemicals market, Sibur will also support the development of the surfactants business in oil and gas markets in Russia and the CIS.

It is expected that the new 50-50 joint venture will source local production in Russia at Dzerzhinsk, near Sibur’s petrochemicals operations outside of Moscow. The site is expected to be operational in 2013.

“This strategic partnership is a key step in our development in the dynamic surfactants market in the CIS and Eastern Europe,” commented Christophe Clemente, Rhodia Novecare’s vice president Europe.



Pure Bioscience Ships Disinfectant to South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA: Pure Bioscience, Inc. has shipped an initial order of SDC-based disinfectant products for distribution in South Africa by BioCare Products (Pty) Ltd., a local distributor.

“Our paradigm-shifting technology has grabbed the attention of government and industry leaders in South Africa,” said Tom Myers, executive vice president, sales and marketing at the company.