SONGWON’s Thomas Schmutz Appointed Chair of ELiSANA

Publishing date: 30.06.2025

Songwon Industrial Co., Ltd., is pleased to announce that Thomas Schmutz, Leader Technology, Regulatory Affairs & Sustainability at SONGWON, was recently appointed as the new Chair of ELiSANA, (European Light Stabilizer and Antioxidant Association).

ELiSANA is a non-profit sector group that was established by The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) in 2004 to provide the industry with comprehensive, reliable information on the health, safety and environmental aspects of antioxidants and light stabilizers. It also serves as a collaborative platform for open dialogue between manufacturers, downstream users and regulatory authorities at both national and European levels.

Since joining ELiSANA in 2007, SONGWON has actively contributed to the association’s efforts to promote the safe use of antioxidants and light stabilizers. The recent appointment highlights SONGWON’s ongoing commitment to advancing industry-wide collaboration and its increased involvement in shaping regulatory policies, as well as promoting data-driven regulatory guidance within the chemical sector. Over the years, SONGWON's efforts have been strongly supported by Chemservice (www.chemservice-group.com/), a leading global consultancy to the chemical industry whose vast regulatory knowledge and international expertise help to guide the review, implementation and compliance with national and international chemical regulations.

As Chair, Thomas Schmutz says that he intends to focus on advancing ELiSANA’s role as a central platform for unified advocacy and scientific exchange. His priorities include expanding the association’s membership base, securing funding for critical toxico-/ecotoxicological studies and supporting the development of reliable, science-based data to guide regulatory decisions. With regulatory pressure intensifying in Europe and driving similar changes globally, he aims to ensure ELiSANA is well-positioned to engage with policymakers constructively and safeguard the availability of crucial additives.

“As regulatory requirements grow in complexity, strong scientific cooperation is more important than ever. Many decisions made in Europe are quickly mirrored globally, so it is critical to support policymakers with sound science and reliable data,” explains Thomas Schmutz. “Through ELiSANA, I look forward to strengthening engagement across the value chain and helping to ensure that essential substances like antioxidants and light stabilizers remain available for safe and sustainable use. A collaborative approach is vital to securing a strong, future-ready European industry built on the best available science.”

SONGWON’s involvement in ELiSANA and other industry bodies is part of the organization’s broader strategy and commitment to responsible chemical stewardship. By working alongside partners in groups like ATC¹, GOSC², LiSAO³, OTR⁴ and CEPAD⁵ and contributing meaningfully to regulatory discussions and scientific data generation, SONGWON contributes to ensuring that chemical compliance extends beyond risk management to actively support innovation, environmental protection and business continuity. These efforts are becoming increasingly critical as regulations shift toward full life-cycle responsibility and demand greater transparency from chemical producers.

¹ATC: Additive Technical Committee (www.atc-europe.org)
²GOSC: Global Organotin Stewardship Council
³LiSAO: Light Stabilizer and Antioxidant Consortia (www.reachcentrum.eu/consortia/lisao-reach-consortium/)
⁴OTR: OrganoTin Consortium (www.reachcentrum.eu/consortia/organotin-reach-consortium/)
⁵CEPAD: European Council for Alkylphenols and Derivatives (www.cepad.cefic.org)

To learn more, please see: www.songwon.com/company/doing-business-with-us/regulatory-services.