Syensqo inaugurates its state-of-the-art microbiology lab in France

Syensqo, a global leader in advanced materials and specialty chemicals, announced the inauguration of its world class cutting-edge microbiology, (eco-)toxicology and biotechnology labs in Lyon, France. This new facility is the company’s largest microbiology lab globally, serving as a reference center in the field.
It enhances Syensqo’s biodegradation[1] and (eco-)toxicology[2] testing capabilities right from the early stages of product development, accelerating the development of environmentally friendly and safe products through its Renewable Materials and Biotechnology Growth Platform.
The newly operational 550 m2 lab will work closely with other ot the chemical company labs around the world to significantly boost the company’s ability to respond to customer needs by improving testing efficiency, and reducing time-to-market.
Equipped with advanced capabilities and machine learning, the lab will support the development of biodegradable-bydesign solutions, particularly in the beauty care, home care, agrochemical, adhesives and materials markets. In our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, the lab’s construction incorporated key initiatives that resulted in a 35% decrease in net power consumption and a 36% reduction in CO2 emissions. By targeting GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) accreditation, expected in the second half of the year, the laboratory will also support product registration. In addition, the laboratory with its expertise in evaluating the biodegradability of a wide range of difficult-to-assess products, will also become available to support customers and partners through a service model. The lab will enable a dramatic increase in biodegradation testing capacity increasing by tenfold the number of samples tested compared to 2021.
“Our new microbiology lab significantly strengthens our capacity to create safe and biodegradable solutions,” said Thomas Canova, Head of Research and Innovation and Head of Renewable Materials and Biotechnology Growth Platform at Syensqo. “With advanced testing methods, digital capabilities, and increased precision and efficiency, we are accelerating the development of sustainable solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers”.

If we consider the adhesives and sealants industry, what will be the help of the lab for the customers of this industry?
“The new microbiology lab in Lyon is designed to support our adhesives and sealants customers by accelerating the development of safer, more sustainable products. With advanced biodegradability testing, digitalization and modellingcapabilities, we can quickly evaluate new formulations, ensuring they meet both performance needs and regulatory requirements.
Our pursuit of GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) accreditation means customers can rely on high-quality, compliant data to support product registration and market access. This enables faster innovation cycles and solutions that align with growing market and regulatory demands for sustainability”.

European normatives are having an impact to change products and formulations in the adhesives, sealants and paints and coatings industry eliminating more and more hazardous chemicals. What is the role of microbiology and how the lab is working to manage new formulations and normatives for the adhesives industry?
“Our lab uses state-of-the-art microbiological testing to assess biodegradability and monitor bacterial activity in new formulations/products. This helps us design ingredients for adhesives and sealants that comply with strict European standards from the outset and ensures that we stay ahead of regulatory changes and market expectations”.

Note
[1] Biodegradation testing is the process of evaluating how quickly and effectively a substance, such as a chemical or material, can be broken down by microorganisms in the environment. This testing helps determine the environmental impact of a substance by assessing its ability to decompose naturally and safely.
[2] Ecotoxicity testing is the process of evaluating the potential harmful effects of chemicals or substances on ecosystems, including plants, animals, and microorganisms. These tests help determine how a chemical might impact the environment, particularly aquatic and terrestrial life, and are essential for assessing environmental safety and regulatory compliance.
Toxicity testing is the process of assessing the potential harmful effects of chemicals or substances on human health.
This testing evaluates how exposure to a chemical might affect various bodily systems and helps ensure safety by identifying potential risks to humans.