Future Topics

Product Safety

During the next reporting period, we will continue to focus on the following:

• REACH registration of substances in due time and continued coordination of tasks relating to the WACKER Group and ECHA (European Chemicals Agency)
• Implementation of international GHS (Globally Harmonized System) legislation in due time
• Implementation of GPS (Global Product Strategy) through publication of GPS Safety Summaries for all relevant substances registered under REACH

As of 2020, chemical companies within Europe must supply information to the ECHA’s network of poison centers. The European Commission and the chemical industry are working on the technical requirements for this.

Another regulatory focal point is chemical nanomaterials. The number of national registers in which nanomaterials are recorded is increasing and will further augment the administrative workload for companies active in this market.

At the editorial deadline of this report, the nature of any post-Brexit chemicals legislation intended to replace REACH registration – should REACH not be adopted – had not yet been specified.

Environmental Compatibility

As part of the WACKER Sustainable Solutions program, our business divisions continue to conduct sustainable portfolio assessments.

Research & Development

The Group’s research and development work remains focused on key strategic projects. WACKER intends to spend 10 percent of its R&D budget on key projects in 2019 (2018: 10 percent). Our R&D work prioritizes the highly promising fields of energy, electronics, consumer care, biotechnology and construction applications. One area of special emphasis is energy storage and renewable-energy generation.