Today, we spent the majority of the day at Nouryon, a company that produces chemicals for a large variety of products, such as items used for personal care, agriculture, natural resources, paints, and polymers. The company started off as a flour mill owned by two men who discovered that the organic compound benzoyl peroxide would be able to bleach their flour and make it more appealing to consumers. Later, the company developed into a globally expanded chemical R&D lab and distributor.

                  We were able to connect with this company through the help of a former Pitt chemistry student, who currently works within the marketing sector of Nouryon. She explained several aspects of the company, with extra detail placed on its core values and sustainability efforts. Nouryon’s mission is to maintain a growth mindset, which is necessary to continue to expand the company and improve upon what is preexisting. As mentioned in the presentation, Nouryon’s values are “Aim High, Own it, and Do it Right.” They accomplish this by holding themselves to high ethical standards to ensure that they are producing the very best product possible while also making sure that they are doing it in a way that upholds their social and environmental responsibilities. This mindset is similar to some ethics lessons I have learned in my introductory engineering classes so far, and it is interesting to see a real-life application of the ethical principles that I was taught to follow. A large emphasis is also placed on sustainability, which can be complicated for the chemical industry. Though production costs have skyrocketed within the past two years and sustainability efforts often include an added cost, Nouryon still prioritizes sustainable practices to offer innovative solutions for sustainability through chemistry. Nouryon differentiates itself from its European competitors by leveraging its sustainability procedures and tailoring itself to Europe’s sustainability improvement goals.

                  Following the very insightful and informative presentation, we were able to tour some areas of the facility and learn about different aspects of the research and development of the chemicals sold by Nouryon. First, we visited a few chemical labs that produce and test different chemical compounds before they are sold to the buyers. While much of the technically specific information went over my head, it was still interesting to see the equipment used and the real-world application of the scientific method used to perform tests and experiments. Next, we visited a testing lab that specifically focused on the performance of dish soaps and detergents. This is unlike any other lab I have ever seen, as it was filled with dishwashers, washers, and dryers, and the testing done here required complete qualitative analysis. Finally, we visited a site that tested reactive substances which was very exciting as we got to see demonstrations of flammability and combustion. Overall, witnessing both the business and technical aspects of Nouryon was very enlightening, and it taught me about how interwoven both aspects are in order to run a successful, ethical, and sustainable company.

                  Following the visit to Nouryon, we attended an event to meet Pitt alumni who currently live in The Netherlands. While I was initially concerned that having meaningful conversations would be difficult, I made great connections with some alumni, and I got to hear their unique stories of how they ended up where they are today. Everyone I talked to had a wildly different but equally interesting story. Though talking about education and careers was insightful, it was also great to bond over common interests and experiences with the alumni.

                  Finally, I ended the day by visiting a local food truck fair located across the street from the alumni event, where we walked around and had some great food. We also caught the end of a small outdoor concert, where we sang and danced until it was time to return to the hostel and turn in for the day.

                  Today was a lovely, well-rou day, as I got another daily dose of professional, academic, and cultural Amsterdam experiences. I am so sad that it is almost time to leave Amsterdam, but I am excited to make the most of my final day tomorrow!