Beyond fossil, carbon and toxic chemistries: New horizons in biotechnology

The SDC was delighted to host a fascinating webinar with Raj Mahendra Tanna, founder and managing director of SCHÜTZEN Chemical Group in Mumbai, India.

SDC members and non-members from the US, UK, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Hong Kong and other locations gathered online to discuss next generation biobased and biodegradable textile chemicals. 

A recording is now available for anyone who missed it – or would like to revisit this insight-rich session. Viewing is free to members or £20 to non-members.

SCHÜTZEN is a forerunner in developing speciality chemicals with a clear focus on replacing unsustainable fossil, carbon and toxic chemistries, products and formulations from every industry.

Introduced by the SDC’s education manager, Dr Sue Hulbert, Raj talked about the problems of synthetic chemistry, potential biobased and biodegradable alternatives – and their commercial advantages for cotton processing – before taking audience members’ questions.

Raj said: “There is only one way out of this problem and that is to completely eliminate fossil carbon.” 

Presenting a series of precise figures and calculations on water usage, emissions and other measurables, he concluded: “This is a complete, positive loop cycle we can get into if we move from fossil carbon to biobased carbon.”

Committed to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, SCHÜTZEN is working to actively research and develop novel applications across textiles, paint and coating, personal and home care applications. 

The company provides technical services to help customers move quickly towards sustainable, biobased carbon chemistries across their applications, formulations, and processes.

Raj, who studied Textile Chemical Technology and Business Management at the University of Manchester, holds several patents.