Business digest
The latest business digest for C&I Issue 9 2025 with all the latest mergers and acquisitions in the chemical industry.
NIH Foundation pushes for end of animal testing
A new drive to replace animal testing with alternative methods has been launched by the US Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH). The Validation and Qualification Network (VQN) brings together regulators, like the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission, with pharmaceutical companies and contract research organisations (CROs).
Leader: Chemical industry at the crossroads
The chemical industry has weathered a long series of serious challenges over recent decades – and is facing a new set right now. The impacts vary around the world, but certainly the new emphasis on tariffs emerging from the US has added a new level of complexity to decisions around international trade – and a cascade of consequences that are still to become clear for businesses in any region.
Organic chemistry: Research from recent scientific journals
Expert scientists summarise some of their selected research papers from recent journal issues. Read the organic chemistry highlights from G. Richard Stephenson, University of East Anglia, UK in Issue 9 2025 of C&I magazine.
Sustainable fashion: How science is creating a better future for textiles
A recent survey found the average EU citizen bought 19kg of clothing, footwear and household textiles in 2022 – enough to fill a large suitcase each year. So, what is being done to make the fashion industry more sustainable? Jasmin Fox-Skelly reports.
Why wood could be the next wonder material, thanks to science
Chemists are finding new ways to make wood stronger, which could pave the way for new applications in sensors, satellites and even transparent wood to replace window glass, reports Lou Reade.
Researchers investigate sustainable food packaging films
Growing environmental concerns around the use of plastics have prompted research into sustainable and biodegradable alternatives for food packaging.
Taking inspiration from nature to create nanostructural colour
A group in Ireland has copied nature to generate structural colours. Colm Delaney and his colleagues at Trinity College Dublin aim to develop cheap sensors to detect changes in colour when a compound in the body or environment is present.
Octopus robotics: How animals (and plants) are inspiring new smart materials
Modern soft robotics engineers are looking to the natural world for ideas to create new, smarter, more energy-efficient robots and sensors. So far octopuses, frog cells and even plants have all provided inspiration. Anthony King reports.