Mechanical Recycling

DOW and SCGC signed a of a first-of-its kind memorandum of understanding (MOU) circularity partnership in the Asia Pacific region to transform 200KTA of plastic waste into circular products by 2030. This partnership intends to accelerate technology development in the value chain to enable recycling through both mechanical recycling (MR) and advanced recycling (AR) and convert a broader range of plastic waste into high-value applications.

Dow and the Procter & Gamble Company recently announced a joint development agreement (JDA) to create a new recycling technology. The vision is to enable efficient conversion of hard-to-recycle plastic packaging into recycled polyethylene with near-virgin quality and a low greenhouse gas emissions footprint.

To create the new technology, the companies will combine their patented technologies and know-how in the dissolution process. The development program will focus on using dissolution technology to recycle a broad range of plastic materials with a focus on polyethylene and targeting post-household plastic waste (especially rigids, flexible and multi-layer packaging, which are harder to recycle).

The technology aims to deliver high quality post-consumer recycled (PCR) polymer with a lower greenhouse gas emissions footprint than fossil-based polyethylene. P&G anticipates using this PCR polymer in their packaging, thereby enabling a path to circularity which helps maximize resource utility and reduces materials treated as waste.

Dow and Boomera Ambipar, a Brazilian company specializing in the circular economy, will work together on a pilot project in Brazil to expand the collection of domestic and industrial waste that would otherwise go to landfills, ensuring that they are recycled.