[13][needs independent confirmation] It was formerly also active in pharmaceuticals, but agreed to sell that entire division to Abbott Labs for €4.5 billion in September 2009,[14] a deal was completed in February 2010.

The traditional chemical activities, such as soda, hydrogen peroxide and adhesives, will continue under the Solvay name and will be led by Philippe Kehren.

The other activities, such as plastics for electronics and rechargeable batteries, have been transferred to a new company called Syensqo (pronounced: science-co), with Ilham Kadri as chairman, who was previously Solvay's General Manager since 2019.

[25][26] In 2024, Solvay announced its plan to supply Europe with rare earth metals for permanent magnets used in EVs and wind turbines from its refurbished plant in France.

[44] New generation lithium batteries for hybrid vehicles components make use of Solvay fluorinated polymers in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

[47] In 2020, Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, now Syensqo, was the subject of litigation for its contaminating water sources and soil with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

[48][49] PFAS, a group of more than 4,000 compounds used in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam and a range of other products,[50] do not break down in the environment, and therefore accumulate in the body.

Although Solvay denies any responsibility, the agreement mandates a thorough environmental investigation under the supervision of the DNREC to assess the extent of the contamination.