Dow to launch fully recycled polymers in 2022

Dow is taking a number of important steps to meet its sustainability goals, address climate change and plastic waste, and further tap the potential of advanced recycling to enable currently unrecyclable plastics to be recycled, including soft plastics used in packaging
.

Among other things, Dow said the projects will enable it to offer customers an initial supply of certified fully recycled polymer starting in 2022
.
To this end, Dow's main plants in Europe and the United States are applying for or have obtained International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC)
.

"The market places great emphasis on circularity, and Dow is innovating to meet the huge unmet need for circular and low-carbon polymers," said Diego Donoso, president of Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics
.

These innovations include developing more sustainable products, including 100% recyclable solutions or products containing recycled or bio-based components
.

Specific projects mentioned include the expansion of Dow's agreement with the Fuenix Ecogy Group to expand the production of recycled plastics through advanced recycling and the construction of a second plant in Weert, the Netherlands
.
The new plant will process 20,000 tons of waste plastic into pyrolysis oil feedstock for the production of new recycled plastics at Dow's Terneuzen plant in the Netherlands
.

The company has also finalized an agreement with Gunvor Petroleum Rotterdam, under which Gunvor will purify the pyrolysis oil and provide Dow with a crackable feedstock
.
Dow will then use these raw materials to produce recycled plastics for customers
.
The purification process is necessary to ensure that the pyrolysis oil feedstock is of sufficient quality to produce new polymers
.

In addition, additional pyrolysis oil purification capacity will be added: Dow is rapidly advancing the design, engineering and construction of a market-scale purification unit in Terneuzen, the Netherlands
.

The company is also expanding its activities in this area in the United States
.
Dow has entered into a multi-year agreement with New Hope Energy of Tyler, Texas, to supply the company with pyrolysis oil feedstock from recycled plastics in North America for the production of recycled plastics
.

Dow also recently announced a partnership with Mura Technology to support the rapid expansion of Mura's new HydroPRS advanced recycling process
.
Mura's first plant was developed in Teesside, UK, and the first 20,000 t/yr line is expected to be commissioned in 2023, which will provide Dow with additional recycled feedstock
.

Dow has set goals to enable 1 million tons of plastic to be collected, reused or recycled by 2030, through its direct actions and partnerships, and 100% reusable by 2035 for products sold to packaging applications or recyclable
.