Dow announces advancements for circular plastics

Dow, Midland, Michigan, has announced several advancements in its efforts to prevent plastic waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide customers with recycled plastic products. The company says these advancements will help it to provide initial supply of fully circular polymers to customers starting in 2022.

According to the company, Dow and Fuenix Ecogy Group are expanding their agreement to scale circular plastics production through advanced recycling with the construction of a second plant in Weert, the Netherlands. Dow reports that the new plant will process 20,000 metric tons of plastics into pyrolysis oil feedstock that can be used to produce new circular plastic at Dow’s Terneuzen site in the Netherlands.

Dow reports that it has finalized an agreement with Gunvor Petroleum Rotterdam to purify pyrolysis oil feedstocks derived from plastic scrap. Gunvor will supply cracker-ready feedstock to Dow beginning this year, which will be used to produce circular plastics for customers. Dow says the purification process is necessary to ensure pyrolysis oil feedstocks are of sufficient quality to produce new polymers. The company reports it also is fast-tracking the design, engineering and construction of a market development scale purification unit in Terneuzen, the Netherlands, to provide additional capacity to purify pyrolysis oil feedstock derived from plastic scrap.

Additionally, Dow has established a multiyear agreement with New Hope Energy in Tyler, Texas, to supply it with pyrolysis oil feedstocks derived from plastics recycled in North America. New Hope Energy converts used plastics into pyrolysis oil feedstock, which Dow will use to produce circular plastics.

The company also is on track to receive International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) for each of its major European and U.S. sites. The company says this certification requires an independent, external audit to ensure product supply chains are fully traceable and that Dow and its suppliers are adhering to and accelerating sustainable practices.

“The market is placing significant value on circularity and Dow is innovating to address the tremendous unmet demand for circular and low carbon polymers,” says Diego Donoso, president of Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics. “As the leading materials science company, Dow is offering our customers what they need today and helping them develop more sustainable products, including 100 percent recyclable solutions or adding recycled or bio-based content into their products.”