THAILAND – Kao Industrial (Thailand), packaging company SCG Chemicals (SCGC), and Dow Thailand Group have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create packaging with recyclability features.
This partnership aims to revolutionize packaging for Kao brands by leveraging cutting-edge technology and novel materials.
Dow predicts these changes will notably shrink the carbon footprint while ushering in easily recyclable packaging.
The collaboration’s core objective is to offer consumers an array of more sustainable packaging alternatives. Both flexible (bags) and rigid (bottles) packaging will transform while preserving their top-tier quality, ensuring content safety, and maintaining customer convenience, as highlighted by Dow.
Yuji Shimizu, president of Kao Thailand, expressed enthusiasm about partnering with SCGC and Dow, emphasizing the joint development of sustainable packaging innovations grounded in the 4R principles: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Replace. This aligns seamlessly with their ESG strategy, the ‘Kirei Lifestyle Plan’, emphasizing a commitment to achieving Zero Carbon Emissions by 2040 through energy conservation and product lifecycle management to curb carbon emissions.
Kao, renowned for brands like Attack, Biore, Haiter, Laurier, and Magiclean, plans to swiftly transition to eco-friendly packaging for a range of products in Thailand.
This move is expected to significantly contribute to Kao’s sustainability targets, including carbon neutrality by 2050.
Moreover, this collaboration harmonizes with SCGC and Dow’s shared objective of minimizing environmental impact and utilizing innovation to provide more sustainable choices to Thai consumers.
Chatchai Luanpolcharoenchai, president of Dow Thailand, expressed satisfaction in aiding Kao’s journey toward sustainable flexible packaging by leveraging expertise and innovative plastics such as INNATE, ELITE, DOWLEX, and Dow PCR (REVOLOOP).
The aim is to develop recyclable packaging solutions that minimize environmental impact and fulfill consumer needs.
Dow to build US$6.5B net-zero plastics plant in Alberta
In another development, the board of the chemical company Dow recently approved a significant stride – a US$6.5 billion petrochemical plant in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada.
This expansive endeavor involves constructing a new ethylene cracker and bolstering polyethylene capacity by 2 million metric tonnes annually.
Anticipated as a net-zero emissions facility, Dow foresees this investment yielding a hefty US$1 billion core profit annually at maximum operation.
Construction is slated to commence in 2024, with capacity augmentations rolling out in stages. The initial phase is set to launch in 2027, contributing approximately 1,285 kilotonnes per annum (KTA) of ethylene and polyethylene capacity.
Subsequently, the second phase, scheduled for 2029, will introduce an additional 600 KTA of capacity.
Dow envisions this fresh capacity as a gateway to meet burgeoning customer demand in lucrative sectors like packaging, infrastructure, and hygiene, among others.
Furthermore, they anticipate extracting added value from the commercialization of low and zero-emissions products.
Expressing environmental commitment, Dow aims to slash net annual carbon emissions by 15% by 2030 compared to its 2020 baseline, striving for carbon neutrality by 2050.
Earlier this year, the company forged a long-term supply pact with New Energy Blue, specializing in bio-conversion, to procure plastic materials crafted from corn residue.
This strategic move aligns with Dow’s trajectory towards leveraging renewable energy sources for production.
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