+ Sustainable product development
It is in the development stage that we lay the foundation for a sustainable product. Merck has therefore launched various initiatives to reduce the ecological footprint of its chemical products.
“Sustainable Protection” and “Design for Sustainability”At Merck Millipore, we currently have two campaigns underway. In 2010, “Sustainable Protection" was launched by our former Performance & Life Science Chemicals division. This project consolidates the division’s various activities in the area of sustainability. Here, we concentrate on safety for users, resource conservation and environmental protection. In 2010, Millipore launched a campaign entitled “Design for Sustainability”. This campaign focuses on studying the effects of products on people and the environment throughout the entire product life cycle, as well as on identifying potential for optimization. Within this framework, we are examining, for example, the use of completely bio-degradable and compostable bioplastic, which is already being utilized in the EcoStand® test tube holder. In 2011, we will be analyzing the ecological efficiency of various types of plastic as well as examining other potential uses in our products. We want to become a pioneer of sustainable products in the life science industry.
“Green3” conceptWith the Green³ concept, the Performance Materials division has been offering its customers a comprehensive package for liquid crystal products since 2010. We are developing innovative, eco-friendly materials for energy-efficient displays. We also help our customers create eco-friendly production processes and support them in producing more eco-friendly LC displays. For example, we have developed eco-efficient and WEEE-compliant (EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive) recycling processes for used LCDs. An integral part of this concept is our Green Product Policy, under which we commit ourselves to complying with all international and country-specific laws and regulations (REACH, RoHS); we also comply with voluntary bans on substances and self-imposed restrictions of certain industries or individual customers, such as the halogen-free policy. At the same time, our voluntary safety policy bans the use of acutely toxic, mutagenic or otherwise hazardous substances that remain in the end product.
The Green³ concept is also to be expanded to the cosmetics business within Performance Materials in 2011.
