Dow and Avangard Innovative Advance Plastic Circularity With Agreement to Supply Recycled Plastics for Dow Technologies
MIDLAND, Mich., February 3, 2020 /3BL Media/ – In an exclusive agreement, Houston-based waste-optimization specialist Avangard Innovative LP will supply post-consumer resin (PCR) plastic film pellets to Dow (NYSE:DOW), a significant addition to Dow’s plastic circularity portfolio that is aligned with the company’s goal to advance the circular economy for plastics and minimize waste in the environment.
The companies expect to begin offering Dow’s first ever PCR-based innovations later this year to North American customers who are demanding stronger sustainability profiles in targeted applications such as liners, shrink wrap and protective packaging, among others. Dow will initially use the PCR from Avangard to create linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) products.
“We’re giving our customers the tools they need to supply consumers with products made from recycled plastic, like the liners they place into their waste bins and the shrink wrap they use to keep their food fresh,” said Victor Zapata, Dow’s recycling commercial director for Latin America and North America. “This collaboration combines Avangard’s waste collection and sortation technology with Dow’s materials science expertise, application expertise and operational scale to bring a consistent processing, reliable supply of PCR-based LLDPE and LDPE to our customers throughout North America.”
Dow Continues Advancing Plastic Circular Economy Solutions
Delivering circular economy solutions is a key component of Dow’s sustainability strategy. By collaborating with Avangard, the two companies together are driving efforts that ensure the value of plastics is not lost after only one material use.
“Any plastic lost to the environment as waste is unacceptable,” said Nestor de Mattos, Dow’s North America commercial vice president for Packaging & Specialty Plastics. “That’s why we’re collaborating with Avangard to advance new solutions that maintain the value of used plastics. Not only does this effort help Dow meet its sustainability goals, it will help our customers reach their own sustainability objectives, furthering the shift toward a circular economy for plastics.”
Dow Agreement Builds on Avangard’s Growth
The exclusive agreement to supply Dow with PCR to combine with virgin resins and create new LLDPE and LDPE products follows Avangard’s announcement that it is expanding its film collection and sortation next year—facilitated by a second plant in Houston, and new plants in Nevada and Mexico.
“The combination of our collaboration with Dow and our planned expansion makes this a very exciting time for Avangard,” said Rick Perez, Avangard CEO. “We’ve built film collection and sortation experience over 35 years, uniquely positioning us to deliver PCR materials that will allow Dow to develop circular products for its customers.”
Avangard has been certified as a minority business enterprise (MBE) by the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC) and the State of Texas.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines one of the broadest technology sets in the industry with asset integration, focused innovation and global scale to achieve profitable growth and become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company. Dow’s portfolio of performance materials, industrial intermediates and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for our customers in high-growth segments, such as packaging, infrastructure and consumer care. Dow operates 113 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 37,000 people. Dow delivered pro forma sales of approximately $50 billion in 2018. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.
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Jennifer West, Dow Bobby Jones, Golin
