Dow join forces with P&G to recycle tough plastics in an eco-friendly process

USA – Dow Chemical Co. and the Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) have unveiled a groundbreaking joint development agreement aimed at pioneering a new recycling technology.

This innovative approach is designed to efficiently convert challenging-to-recycle plastic packaging into recycled polyethylene (PE) boasting near-virgin quality, all while maintaining a low greenhouse gas emissions footprint.

Pooling their expertise, Dow and P&G will leverage their patented technologies and industry know-how in the dissolution process to create this transformative technology.

The focus of their collaborative development program will be on recycling a wide spectrum of plastic materials, with particular emphasis on PE and the recycling of postconsumer plastic materials, including rigids, flexible packaging, and multilayer packaging.

The envisioned technology is poised to deliver a high-caliber postconsumer recycled (PCR) polymer, showcasing a significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions footprint compared to fossil-based PE.

P&G envisions integrating this PCR polymer into its packaging, facilitating a pathway towards circularity that optimizes resource utilization and diminishes the volume of materials destined for disposal.

The partnership kicks off immediately and is slated to continue until commercialization. Dave Parrillo, Vice President of Research and Development for Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics and Hydrocarbons, expresses Dow’s commitment to transforming plastic waste into circular solutions.

He underscores the excitement surrounding the collaboration with P&G, citing their shared sustainability objectives and dedication to innovation.

Both companies harbor ambitious aspirations to propel circularity forward. Dow has set a sustainability target to bring to market 3 million metric tons of circular and renewable solutions by 2030, while P&G aims to ensure that 100 percent of its consumer packaging is recyclable or reusable by the same year.

Lee Ellen Drechsler, P&G’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Research and Development, echoes the sentiment, highlighting the partnership with Dow as instrumental in advancing P&G’s mission to scale industry solutions and foster a circular future where materials are recycled and repurposed, rather than discarded as waste.

In another significant development, Dow and Beyond Benign, a nonprofit organization dedicated to integrating green chemistry into education, have announced an expanded multi-year collaboration.

Building on their existing partnership, both entities are committed to advancing chemistry education by empowering educators with the tools and resources needed to integrate green chemistry principles into higher education curricula seamlessly.

This collaboration, underpinned by Dow’s strong commitment to sustainability, will bolster Beyond Benign’s initiatives across several key areas.

Amy Cannon, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Beyond Benign, expresses excitement about the expanded collaboration with Dow.

She emphasizes the importance of empowering educators to equip future scientists with the knowledge and skills to design safer chemical products and support universities in adopting green chemistry principles.

With increased support from Dow, Beyond Benign aims to expand its global collaboration efforts, with a focus on forging partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the U.S.

The organization seeks to enhance the representation of scientists from underrepresented groups in the green chemistry field and empower faculty to integrate sustainability principles into chemistry education.

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