Solvay signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Viridis Mining and Minerals to establish a strategic supply of rare earth materials by 2028, marking an important step toward strengthening and diversifying global critical minerals supply chains. Under the proposed agreement, the two companies will work toward finalizing a definitive sourcing arrangement that will enable Solvay to secure rare earth feedstocks from Brazil for processing at its La Rochelle facility in France.

Leveraging Brazilian Resources and Advanced Processing Expertise

As part of the collaboration, Viridis is expected to supply rare earth feedstocks from its Brazilian operations, while Solvay will contribute its globally recognized expertise in rare earth separation and processing technologies. The partnership aims to accelerate the development of a reliable supply chain for rare earth materials. By combining Viridis’ resource base with Solvay’s advanced refining capabilities, the companies plan to convert raw materials into high-purity rare earth oxides required for a wide range of high-tech and clean-energy applications. These materials play a critical role in manufacturing electric vehicle (EV) motors, renewable energy systems, advanced electronics, aerospace components, and defense technologies.

Supporting Growing Demand for Magnet Materials

The feedstock covered under the proposed agreement contains several strategically important rare earth elements used in permanent magnets, including neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy), and terbium (Tb). Demand for these materials continues to rise as global electrification and clean energy initiatives accelerate. In addition, the feedstock includes significant quantities of heavy rare earth elements such as samarium (Sm), gadolinium (Gd), and yttrium (Y). These materials are widely used in automotive, electronics, medical devices, aerospace systems, and other advanced technology sectors.

Solvay Expands Rare Earth Processing Capabilities

According to An Nuyttens, President of Solvay’s Special Chem business, the proposed partnership would strengthen the company’s upstream supply network and provide an additional reliable source of critical raw materials. The collaboration is expected to support Solvay’s efforts to maximize utilization of its processing infrastructure while meeting growing global demand for sustainably sourced and high-purity rare earth elements. As part of its expansion strategy, Solvay plans to begin industrial-scale separation of dysprosium and terbium at its La Rochelle facility by September 2026. The company also remains committed to supplying 30% of Europe’s demand for magnet-grade light and heavy rare earth materials by 2030.

Building a More Resilient Rare Earth Value Chain

Viridis Mining and Minerals believes the partnership will create a strong link between its rare earth resources and one of the world’s most advanced rare earth processing platforms. The collaboration is expected to contribute to the development of a more diversified, secure, and responsible supply chain for critical minerals, reducing dependence on concentrated sources of rare earth production and supporting rapidly expanding global demand.

La Rochelle Facility Plays Strategic Role

Solvay’s La Rochelle facility is among the largest rare earth separation facilities outside China and is one of the few industrial sites globally capable of processing the full range of rare earth elements at commercial scale. Consequently, the facility serves as a key asset in Solvay’s strategy to expand rare earth production capacity and strengthen the resilience of the global rare earth value chain.

Subject to Final Agreements

As per the press release, the proposed transaction remains subject to the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, regulatory and compliance requirements, and other customary conditions. As a result, there can be no assurance regarding the completion of the transaction or its final terms.

Strategic Investment in Specialty Chemicals

Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) has approved the establishment of a high-purity hydrogen peroxide plant at Dahej in Gujarat. The company has designed this project to strengthen its presence in advanced chemical manufacturing and expand into high-value specialty applications.

Focus on Semiconductor and Solar Applications

The new facility will produce high-purity hydrogen peroxide, which plays a critical role in semiconductor fabrication and solar cell manufacturing. In addition, it will support other advanced electronics applications as India expands its domestic production ecosystem in these sectors.

Investment and Capacity Details

GACL has planned an investment of around ₹67 crore for the project. The plant will have a capacity of 5,000 tonnes per annum and will be developed at its existing Dahej complex. Furthermore, the company expects to complete the project within approximately 18 months from the start date.

Revenue Outlook and Funding Plan

The project is projected to generate annual revenue of nearly ₹42 crore once operational. The company will fund the investment primarily through internal accruals, while any funding gap may be met through borrowings.

Industry Context and Market Significance

As per The Hindu BusinessLine, GACL’s move reflects growing demand for high-purity chemicals used in semiconductor and solar manufacturing. The development aligns with India’s broader push to strengthen domestic supply chains for advanced electronics and clean energy sectors.

Expansion of India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem

Moreover, the project supports the rapid expansion of semiconductor and solar manufacturing facilities across India. It positions GACL to benefit from rising demand for ultra-high-purity chemicals required in cutting-edge industrial processes.

Clariant has secured approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its bio-based Licocare™ RBW wax additives for use in rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) food-contact applications. Effective May 7, 2026, the approval extends the company’s existing authorization beyond polyester materials to include rigid PVC applications.

Broader Scope for Food-Contact Applications

The approval covers the entire Licocare RBW portfolio, including the RBW 100 series, RBW 300 series, Licocare RBW 360 Vita, and Licocare RBW 560 Vita. Manufacturers can use these additives as processing aids, lubricants, release agents, and slip additives in both single-use and repeat-use rigid PVC applications. The authorization applies to all food types except infant formula and human milk contact applications.

Furthermore, the FDA permits the use of these additives at concentrations of up to 0.5% by weight in direct food-contact applications under specified conditions. For food-processing equipment made from rigid PVC, Clariant has also received a Letter of No Objection (LONO) allowing repeated-use applications at concentrations of up to 1%.

Supporting Sustainable Alternatives

As per the Clariant press release, the dual authorization enables manufacturers to use the additives across a wide range of applications, including rigid PVC containers, packaging materials, conveyor belts, cutting boards, storage containers, seals, and gaskets. Consequently, formulators gain greater flexibility to meet performance requirements while maintaining regulatory compliance.

In addition, the approval strengthens Clariant’s global regulatory position. Earlier in 2026, the company received European Commission authorization based on a positive opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for the same product range in PET, PLA, and rigid PVC materials. Clariant also holds food-contact approvals in Japan.

Addressing Supply Chain and Sustainability Challenges

Licocare RBW additives are derived from rice bran wax and provide a renewable alternative to conventional fossil-based montan waxes. As supply constraints and price volatility continue to affect the montan wax market, manufacturers are increasingly seeking sustainable and reliable alternatives.

Moreover, the bio-based additives deliver key processing benefits, including improved lubrication, mold release, nucleation effects, and enhanced dispersion properties. Their biodegradable and industrially compostable characteristics further support sustainability goals across the packaging and plastics industries.

Strengthening Global Compliance

With approvals now covering FDA, EFSA, and Japanese regulatory requirements, Clariant has established a strong compliance framework for its Licocare RBW portfolio. As a result, manufacturers can more confidently adopt renewable additives in food-contact applications while meeting stringent international regulatory standards.

India’s agricultural sector relies heavily on chemical fertilisers to sustain crop production. However, this dependence has created significant challenges for the country. India consumes more than 70 million tonnes of mineral fertilisers every year, making it the world’s second-largest consumer after China. Since domestic reserves of key resources such as natural gas and potash remain limited, the country imports nearly 90 per cent of its fertiliser requirements in the form of raw materials or finished products.

As a result, global geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions directly impact India’s fertiliser availability and pricing. Events such as the Ukraine conflict and ongoing tensions in West Asia have exposed the risks associated with excessive dependence on imports.

Environmental Concerns and Imbalanced Usage

At the same time, the overuse of chemical fertilisers has created environmental concerns. Farmers often apply excessive quantities of urea, leading to an imbalance in nutrient usage and neglecting essential micronutrients and organic matter. Consequently, soil fertility declines over time, fertiliser-use efficiency decreases, and agricultural productivity suffers.

Furthermore, continuous dependence on chemical fertilisers contributes to soil degradation and environmental pollution, making sustainable alternatives increasingly important.

Biofertilisers Offer a Sustainable Alternative

Biofertilisers present a viable solution to these challenges. These products contain beneficial microorganisms that naturally improve the availability of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc in the soil. Unlike chemical fertilisers, biofertilisers enhance nutrient uptake through natural biological processes, including nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilisation.

According to agricultural experts, biofertilisers can replace a portion of chemical fertilisers in major crops without compromising productivity. In addition, they improve soil health, support biodiversity, and reduce the environmental impact of farming practices.

Industry and Government Support

As per The Economic Times, scientific studies have shown that integrating biofertilisers with balanced nutrient management practices can increase crop yields while reducing chemical fertiliser consumption by up to 30 per cent. These findings highlight the potential of biofertilisers to strengthen India’s agricultural resilience and reduce import dependence.

Recognising these benefits, both the government and private sector have begun investing in biofertiliser research, production, and quality improvement. Institutions such as the National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming are supporting certification, testing, and farmer awareness programmes. Meanwhile, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are expanding training initiatives to encourage adoption at the grassroots level.

Challenges to Wider Adoption

Despite their advantages, biofertilisers still account for a relatively small share of India’s nutrient management system. Several factors continue to hinder large-scale adoption. For example, biofertilisers have a limited shelf life and require proper storage conditions. Inconsistent product quality and inadequate standardisation further reduce farmer confidence.

Moreover, many farmers lack access to training and extension services that explain the correct application methods and long-term benefits of biofertilisers.

The Road Ahead

To accelerate adoption, policymakers and industry stakeholders must strengthen quality control mechanisms, expand production facilities, and improve farmer outreach programmes. Demonstration projects, targeted incentives, and stronger extension services can help build trust and encourage farmers to transition toward integrated nutrient management practices.

By reducing chemical fertiliser use even modestly in the short term, India can lower import costs, minimise exposure to global supply disruptions, and improve soil health. Over the long term, widespread adoption of biofertilisers can support a more sustainable, self-reliant, and resilient agricultural sector.

Turning Diaper Waste into Valuable Resources

Woosh, Borouge International, and BlueAlp have successfully demonstrated a circular recycling pathway for used baby diaper plastics in Europe. Through this collaboration, the companies recovered plastics from used diapers and chemically recycled them into ISCC PLUS-certified pyrolysis oil, which can be used to produce new polymers, including materials for future diaper manufacturing.

This achievement marks one of the first industrial-scale demonstrations of diaper plastic recycling in Europe, creating a viable solution for one of the region’s most challenging waste streams.

Addressing a Growing Environmental Challenge

Disposable baby diapers typically follow a linear lifecycle. After a single use, most diapers end up in landfills or incinerators despite containing valuable polyolefin-based plastics and nonwoven materials. According to estimates, the European Union generated approximately 6.73 million metric tonnes of disposable diaper waste in 2017, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable waste management solutions.

As a result, industry stakeholders have increasingly focused on developing circular economy models that can recover and reuse these materials instead of discarding them.

How the Recycling Process Works

The project builds on Woosh’s closed-loop diaper collection system. The company supplies specially designed recyclable diapers to households and childcare facilities and then collects them after use. This approach creates a dedicated and traceable stream of diaper waste for recycling.

Next, Woosh mechanically separates the plastic components from the used diapers. Subsequently, BlueAlp processes these recovered plastic fractions using its advanced pyrolysis technology at its facility in Oostende, Belgium. The process converts the plastic waste into high-quality pyrolysis oil that meets the specifications required for new polymer production.

Furthermore, Borouge International worked closely with both partners to establish quality standards for the recovered materials, ensuring they could be successfully integrated back into the plastics value chain.

Industry Recognition and Future Expansion

As per Metissue reports on circular economy developments, collaborations between waste management and advanced recycling companies are becoming increasingly important for achieving sustainability targets across industries.

Meanwhile, Woosh continues to expand its operations. The company currently serves more than 30,000 children daily through its diaper collection system in Belgium and operates a recycling facility capable of processing thousands of tonnes of used diapers each year. In addition, the company plans to expand into France and the Netherlands, which will increase the volume of recoverable materials available for recycling.

Supporting a Circular Economy

The success of this initiative demonstrates how companies can work together to transform difficult-to-recycle waste into valuable raw materials. By combining dedicated collection systems, mechanical separation technologies, and chemical recycling processes, the partners have established a practical model for circularity in the hygiene sector.

Ultimately, this project highlights the potential of innovative recycling technologies to reduce landfill waste, lower dependence on virgin raw materials, and support the transition toward a more sustainable and circular plastics economy.

Growing Dependence on Imported Fertilisers

India stands at a critical point in its agricultural journey. As the world’s second-largest consumer of mineral fertilisers, the country is expected to record fertiliser sales of nearly 72 million tonnes by 2025-26. However, India depends heavily on imports for both raw materials and finished fertiliser products, with nearly 90% of its requirement sourced from global markets. Consequently, geopolitical conflicts and supply chain disruptions continue to threaten the nation’s food security.

Global Uncertainty Highlights Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Recent international developments, including the Ukraine conflict and tensions in West Asia, have exposed the risks associated with excessive import dependence. Any disruption in global fertiliser supplies can significantly impact agricultural production, increase costs, and create uncertainty for millions of farmers. Therefore, India must strengthen its fertiliser security strategy while reducing its exposure to external shocks.

Balancing Supply with Sustainable Usage

While securing adequate fertiliser supplies remains essential, improving the way fertilisers are used is equally important. Over the years, excessive dependence on nitrogen-based fertilisers, particularly urea, has created nutrient imbalances in the soil. As a result, soil health has deteriorated and fertiliser-use efficiency has declined.

As per The Economic Times, experts and policymakers are increasingly advocating a balanced nutrient management approach that promotes the optimal use of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash based on crop requirements and soil conditions.

Learning from Past Experiences

The government has repeatedly encouraged farmers to reduce excessive chemical fertiliser consumption. However, policymakers also recognize the need for a gradual transition. The experience of Sri Lanka’s abrupt fertiliser ban in 2021 serves as a cautionary example, as it resulted in lower crop yields and severe food shortages. Therefore, India aims to adopt a measured and science-based approach rather than sudden policy shifts.

Key Strategies for Fertiliser Reform

Restore Nutrient Balance

Farmers can improve productivity and soil health by applying nutrients according to soil-test recommendations. Balanced fertilisation reduces waste and enhances crop performance over the long term.

Increase Organic Matter in Soil

The use of compost, crop residues, and organic inputs can significantly improve soil structure and nutrient retention. Moreover, integrated nutrient management practices can increase nitrogen-use efficiency and reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers.

Promote Indigenous Alternatives

India has begun exploring locally available and environmentally friendly alternatives such as organic manure, biogas slurry, and biofertilisers. These options can reduce import dependence while supporting sustainable agriculture.

Biofertilisers Offer a Promising Solution

Biofertilisers contain beneficial microorganisms that help plants absorb nutrients more efficiently. Under favourable conditions, they can potentially replace up to 25% of conventional chemical fertiliser use. Additionally, they improve soil fertility through natural biological processes.

However, widespread adoption remains challenging. Biofertilisers require proper storage, careful handling, and suitable soil conditions to deliver consistent results. Furthermore, quality control and farmer awareness continue to be major concerns across the sector.

Strengthening Capacity and Quality Standards

To accelerate adoption, experts recommend establishing dedicated biofertiliser production and development centres across districts. At the same time, government agencies, research institutions, and fertiliser companies should invest in farmer education, product testing, and quality certification systems. Stronger monitoring mechanisms can also help ensure product reliability and build farmer confidence.

Moving Towards Long-Term Sustainability

Research conducted by agricultural institutions indicates that improved nutrient management and biofertiliser integration can reduce chemical fertiliser consumption by 25–30%. In the short term, India can aim to lower nitrogen application by 10–15%, while medium-term strategies could achieve savings of up to 25% over the next decade.

The Road Ahead

India must act decisively to reduce its dependence on imported fertilisers while maintaining agricultural productivity. By combining supply security, balanced nutrient management, and sustainable alternatives, the country can strengthen food security, improve soil health, and reduce vulnerability to global disruptions. Ultimately, coordinated efforts from policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and farmers will determine the success of this transition toward a more resilient agricultural future.

When consumers finish a bottle of their favorite beverage, the ideal outcome is for that bottle to be recycled and reused. This concept lies at the core of packaging circularity, which focuses on keeping materials in use for as long as possible instead of sending them to landfills.

While many beverage bottles move efficiently through existing recycling systems, several everyday plastic products remain difficult to recycle. Items such as old carpets, clothing fibers, plastic films, and certain colored or opaque containers often fall outside traditional recycling processes and frequently end up as waste.

Giving Waste a Second Life

To address this challenge, PepsiCo is leveraging advanced recycling technologies that can transform hard-to-recycle plastics into high-quality, food-grade packaging materials. Through a multi-year agreement with Eastman, the company is sourcing recycled materials created from discarded polyester-based plastic waste. As a result, PepsiCo can reduce its dependence on virgin plastic while increasing the use of recycled content in its packaging.

In fact, PepsiCo has already started rolling out Gatorade bottles in the United States that contain recycled plastic enabled by Eastman’s advanced recycling technology. This initiative demonstrates how materials once destined for disposal can return to the market as new beverage packaging.

As per the PepsiCo press release, this technology allows plastics that traditionally could not be recycled to re-enter the packaging value chain, creating new opportunities for circularity.

How Advanced Recycling Works

Traditional mechanical recycling remains an important part of the recycling ecosystem. The process involves collecting, sorting, cleaning, melting, and reshaping used plastics into new products. However, mechanical recycling has limitations, particularly when dealing with colored, opaque, or mixed plastic materials.

Advanced recycling addresses these challenges by breaking plastic waste down to its molecular building blocks. The technology then purifies these materials and rebuilds them into high-quality recycled plastics that closely match virgin plastic in performance and appearance. Consequently, manufacturers can create durable, food-grade packaging from materials that would otherwise be discarded.

Supporting a More Circular Future

Although advanced recycling offers significant potential, PepsiCo emphasizes that it is not a standalone solution. Instead, the company views it as a complementary approach that works alongside mechanical recycling, improved waste collection systems, better packaging design, and stronger recycling infrastructure.

By investing in multiple solutions, PepsiCo aims to reduce the use of virgin plastic, divert more waste from landfills, and support the development of a more circular packaging economy. Ultimately, transforming old carpets and other difficult-to-recycle materials into new bottles represents another step toward a future where packaging remains in continuous use rather than becoming waste.

As India seeks to enhance energy security and reduce dependence on imported crude oil and natural gas, the country is increasingly focusing on maximizing production from mature and brownfield hydrocarbon assets. By leveraging advanced technologies and improved recovery techniques, policymakers and industry leaders aim to unlock significant untapped reserves from aging fields.

Mature Fields Remain the Backbone of Domestic Production

Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, emphasized that these fields continue to play a critical role in India’s domestic hydrocarbon output despite the natural decline observed in many reservoirs. “While supply diversification has helped India navigate global energy disruptions, true energy security will depend on our ability to extract more value from domestic hydrocarbon resources,” Mittal said. He noted that sustaining production levels from mature assets will require accelerated deployment of advanced technologies, including digital oilfield systems, sophisticated reservoir modelling tools, and modern artificial lift systems.

Technology to Drive Higher Recovery Rates

To boost production from aging reservoirs, operators are increasingly adopting Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and Improved Oil Recovery (IOR) technologies. These methods help extract hydrocarbons that conventional production techniques often leave behind.

Key technologies being deployed include:

*Chemical EOR techniques

*Carbon dioxide (CO₂) injection

*Surfactant-polymer flooding

*Thermal recovery methods

*Advanced reservoir simulation and modelling

The selection of these technologies depends on specific reservoir characteristics and field conditions.

Significant Opportunity to Unlock Additional Reserves

Industry experts believe that even small improvements in recovery rates can generate substantial additional production volumes, strengthening India’s energy resilience amid rising fuel demand. Globally, mature oil and gas fields account for nearly 70% of total hydrocarbon production. However, average recovery rates remain around 33%, leaving considerable room for improvement through advanced extraction techniques.

In India, oil recovery factors have historically ranged between 30% and 35%, while gas fields typically achieve recovery rates of nearly 80%. These figures indicate a significant opportunity to increase domestic production through better reservoir management and technology-driven interventions.

State-Owned Producers Intensify Revival Efforts

India’s state-run upstream companies are stepping up efforts to enhance output from aging assets. Their strategies include reservoir optimization, digitalization initiatives, real-time production monitoring, and deployment of advanced recovery technologies. These measures aim to extend field life, improve operational efficiency, and maximize hydrocarbon extraction from reservoirs that have been producing for decades.

Government Policies Support Production Enhancement

The government has already introduced policy measures to encourage Enhanced Oil Recovery projects and is evaluating additional incentives to promote production enhancement through unconventional technologies and injection-based recovery processes. Such initiatives are expected to accelerate investment in mature field redevelopment and support the adoption of innovative recovery techniques across the upstream sector.

Future Growth Hinges on Advanced Recovery Technologies

As India’s energy demand continues to rise, maximizing production from existing oil and gas assets has become a strategic priority. Emerging technologies such as chemical flooding, thermal recovery, digital reservoir modelling, and artificial intelligence-driven field management are creating new opportunities to unlock incremental production from mature reservoirs. As reported by ET Energy World, by combining supportive policies with technological innovation, India aims to extract more value from its existing hydrocarbon resources, strengthen domestic energy security, and reduce vulnerability to global energy market fluctuations.

More than 50 years after her father was named Fellow of the Royal Society, Soumya Swaminathan is one of two from India, among 90 international researchers elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences. IIT Kanpur Director Dr Manindra Agrawal was the other elected person from India.

The former chief scientist to the World Health Organization and Chairperson MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Soumya joins her father late MS Swaminathan – making them possibly the only father-daughter duo to get this recognition. Agrawal is a renowned computer scientist, globally known for his contributions in Complexity Theory and Cryptography.  Among other Indian researchers who have, in the past, been recognised by the Royal Society are Gagandeep Kang and RA Mashelkar, to name a few.

Inspiration for Youth

Swaminathan hoped this recognition would inspire young people to pursue a research-based career, “where you can combine your scientific curiosity with also the benefit of having an impact on people’s lives.” Young researchers can have a successful and fulfilling career in science, she said, concerned that not many were taking up a career in research.

As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, coming up next is a signing ceremony (July 10th) where the Fellows will have to sign a register – “apparently it is the same register that Charles Darwin and Newton have signed,” she said. Further, they are allowed to look at one other page in the register, and Swaminathan said that for her would be where her father had signed in 1973. The fellows join the ranks of Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Lise Meitner, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and Dorothy Hodgkin, a note from the Royal Society said. About 26 percent of this year’s intake of Fellows and Honorary Fellows are women, it added.

Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said, “Their contributions reflect the highest standards of scientific endeavour. Whether advancing our understanding of vaccines or exploring the transformative potential of mathematics and computation, their work exemplifies the enduring value of curiosity, creativity and rigorous inquiry”.