- link Copy URL - [ Share on X ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Bio-Based Solvents Take Center Stage at CHEMUK https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1315931?absolute=1&via=3blnews "Share on X") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1315931?absolute=1 "Share on Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1315931?absolute=1 "Share on Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Bio-Based Solvents Take Center Stage at CHEMUK&body=ESG News from MilliporeSigma https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1315931?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Responsible Production & the Circular Economy](/categories/responsible-production-circular-economy) # Bio-Based Solvents Take Center Stage at CHEMUK Jun 23, 2026 10:30 AM ET Campaign: [Greener Products and Solutions](/news/campaign/greener-products-and-solutions) ![MilliporeSigma employees at CHEMUK booth](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/Chem%20UK%202026.png) MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, took center stage at CHEMUK 2026 with the launch of its first bio-based solvent portfolio for HPLC and LCMS, underscoring how sustainability is reshaping both science and business. These solvents—including ethanol, methanol and acetonitrile—are designed to reduce reliance on fossil-based materials and lower environmental footprints, all without compromising performance or requiring method changes. As drop-in replacements, they enable customers to adopt more sustainable practices seamlessly, helping remove barriers like changing scientists’ workflows, which have traditionally slowed adoption. [Jeffrey Whitford](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-whitford-5419b812/), Vice President of Sustainability & Social Business Innovation at MilliporeSigma, delivered a keynote at [CHEMUK 2026](https://www.chemicalukexpo.com/en/), one of the leading UK events for the chemical, process engineering and formulated product industries. His keynote, “Redefining Solvent Innovation for Tomorrow’s Chemistry – Driving Circularity Through Bio-Based Solutions,” explored how sustainability is reshaping both science and business. Other key takeaways from the session include: **Driving circularity through bio-based innovation.** By leveraging renewable feedstocks, these next-generation solvents support a reduced carbon footprint and more circular resource use. On average, they offer a 25.9% lower CO2e footprint compared to their fossil-based alternatives. This approach demonstrates how embedding sustainability into product design can deliver measurable environmental benefits while maintaining scientific rigor. **Linking sustainability to business transformation.** Jeffrey outlined the broader business case for greener chemistry, noting that sustainability-driven product innovation strengthens competitiveness, delivers on customer expectations, and accelerates organizational change. **Enabling integration into existing workflows.** A key advantage of these bio-based solvents is their compatibility with established laboratory processes. By eliminating the need for method redevelopment, organizations can more quickly integrate greener chemistry into their operations without sacrificing efficiency or reliability. Throughout the keynote, Jeffrey reinforced that sustainability in chemistry extends beyond reducing environmental impact—it requires reimagining how products are designed, produced and used to create greater value across the entire ecosystem. To explore how MilliporeSigma is advancing sustainability across the life science industry, visit the company’s [Sustainability and Social Business Innovation](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/life-science/ssbi) webpage. [![The life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada](/sites/default/files/Clients/MERCK_MSIG_VMagenta_RGB.jpg)](/profiles/milliporesigma) ### More from MilliporeSigma ###### [MilliporeSigma's Approach to Embedding Sustainability Earlier in Product Development](/news/milliporesigmas-approach-embedding-sustainability-earlier-product-development) May 28, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma Launches Supplier Sustainability Toolkits to Help Advance Supply Chain Impact](/news/milliporesigma-launches-supplier-sustainability-toolkits-help-advance-supply-chain-impact) May 21, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma Receives 2026 Environment+Energy Leader Spotlight Award ](/news/milliporesigma-receives-2026-environmentenergy-leader-spotlight-award) May 5, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma Launches First Bio-Based Solvent Portfolio for High-Performance Liquid Chromatography](/news/milliporesigma-launches-first-bio-based-solvent-portfolio-high-performance-liquid) Apr 21, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma Launches 2026 Global Curiosity Cube™ Tour, Bringing STEM Learning to Students](/news/milliporesigma-launches-2026-global-curiosity-cubetm-tour-bringing-stem-learning-students) Apr 14, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [How Nike Inspired a Green Chemistry Breakthrough](/news/how-nike-inspired-green-chemistry-breakthrough) Mar 24, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma Marks 10 Years of SPARK™ Mobilizing Employee Volunteers to Help Inspire the Next Generation in STEM](/news/milliporesigma-marks-10-years-sparktm-mobilizing-employee-volunteers-help-inspire-next) Mar 18, 2026 8:15 AM ET ###### [Beyond Benign’s Green Chemistry Commitment Earns 2025 RSC Horizon Prize for Education for Advancing Green Chemistry in Higher Education](/news/beyond-benigns-green-chemistry-commitment-earns-2025-rsc-horizon-prize-education-advancing) Jan 20, 2026 10:30 AM ET