Merck leads the global charge for clean chemistry

By Jessica Martyn

For financial advisers, clients’ different learned perceptions of risk are often the biggest challenge when recommending a certain type of portfolio for wealth creation. 

Innovation is the beating heart of the Scientific Research & Development industry in Australia, and the vibrant science and technology specialists at Merck are often at the helm of highly innovative missions, accelerating groundbreaking – and in many cases, life-changing – scientific developments. 

Cyrene is one such development – a bio-based solvent manufactured in Tasmania as a substitute for environmentally harmful petroleum-based alternatives. 

The solvent is the result of a collaborative effort between Australian company Circa Group, the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence (GCCE) at the University of York, and Merck KGaA to convert waste streams into petroleum substitutes. 

Produced from waste cellulose in only two steps, Cyrene is naturally free from sulphur and nitrogen, solving a range of environmental challenges commonly associated with solvents that contain these compounds – for example, pollution and the creation of toxic byproducts without compromising on performance. 

Cyrene was developed and manufactured in Australia before Merck launched it globally, backing its superior promise of sustainability – an inspiring success story for other Australian biotech companies seeking a global platform. 

The development also adheres to the 12 principles of green chemistry that underpin all of the work Merck does. 

“At Merck, sustainability is a cornerstone for future innovation and growth, and a responsibility we want to fulfil every day,” said Rebecca Lee, Managing Director of Merck’s Life Science business in Australia. 



“Through our innovation power, we strive to create long-term value for society by fostering human progress for more than one billion people, achieving climate neutrality by 2040 and reducing our resource consumption.”