Dow (NYSE: DOW) and The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) have announced a collaborative effort through a joint development agreement (JDA) to spearhead the creation of a pioneering recycling technology. This initiative aims to facilitate the efficient conversion of hard-to-recycle plastic packaging into recycled polyethylene with quality akin to virgin materials and a significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions footprint.

The core of this innovative technology lies in leveraging the companies' patented technologies and expertise in the dissolution process. The development program will prioritize the utilization of dissolution technology to recycle a diverse array of plastic materials, with a specific focus on polyethylene, targeting post-household plastic waste, especially rigid, flexible, and multi-layer packaging, which pose significant challenges in recycling.

The primary objective of this technology is to produce top-tier post-consumer recycled (PCR) polymer with a significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions footprint in comparison to fossil-based polyethylene. Procter & Gamble envisions incorporating this PCR polymer into their packaging, thus paving the way for circularity, which optimizes resource utilization and reduces materials destined for disposal.

The global partnership between Dow and Procter & Gamble is commencing immediately and is slated to continue until commercialization. In addition to their patented technologies, both companies bring to the table decades of expertise in materials science, manufacturing capabilities, and extensive experience in large-scale supply chain management. These areas of proficiency will play a pivotal role in the development of this new recycling technology, poised for deployment at commercial manufacturing scale.

Dave Parrillo, Vice President for Research & Development at Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics and Hydrocarbons, expressed Dow's commitment to transforming plastic waste into circular solutions that meet the high-quality resin requirements of their customers, thereby advancing the circular economy agenda. He emphasized Dow's enthusiasm for collaborating with Procter & Gamble, highlighting their shared sustainability goals and dedication to innovation.

Lee Ellen Drechsler, Senior Vice President of Corporate Research and Development at Procter & Gamble, echoed Parrillo's sentiments, emphasizing that their partnership with Dow aligns with P&G's objective to scale industry solutions and contribute towards creating a circular future where materials are recycled and repurposed instead of ending up as waste.

Both Dow and Procter & Gamble harbor ambitious aspirations to accelerate circularity. Dow has established a sustainability goal aimed at transforming waste and bringing to market three million metric tons of circular and renewable solutions by 2030. Meanwhile, P&G envisions utilizing 100% consumer packaging designed for recyclability or reusability by 2030.