Dow joins The Recycling Partnership

In its latest move to advance the circular economy, The Dow Chemical Co., headquartered in Midland, Michigan, has become a funding sponsor of The Recycling Partnership, Falls Church, Virginia. The collaboration is an important step in Dow’s journey to reach its 2025 sustainability goals, which include turning materials formerly considered waste into new products, according to a news release issued by The Recycling Partnership.

“At Dow, we are collaborating with other industry leaders to harness science, industries and the incredibly powerful human element to transition to a sustainable planet and society,” says Karen S. Carter, North America commercial vice president, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics. “From supporting the engagement of best practices in existing local recycling programs to creating new technologies for broader material recovery, Dow is dedicated to finding solutions that increase recovery rates for plastic packaging.”

The Recycling Partnership says it continues to deliver tangible results, improving recovery of high quality recyclables for manufacturing feedstock across the country. In 2015 the national nonprofit leveraged $11 million of new recycling infrastructure that positively affected 1.2 million households. In 2016, The Recycling Partnership will launch curbside cart and quality improvement programs in a number of cities, adding to the 165,000 carts delivered last year.

“We appreciate that Dow is actively engaging in real world efforts to improve the sustainability and recyclability of plastic packaging,” says Keefe Harrison, The Recycling Partnership’s executive director. “Dow uses well-informed tactics and strategic partnerships to make progress, and it topples tough barriers with a can-do attitude. We have that in common, and we’re undoubtedly stronger together.”

Dow marks the 23rd member of The Recycling Partnership, further expanding the group’s resources and reach. (To read an essay and listen to a podcast on the circular economy from Dow's Director of Sustainable markets and professional strategy Eunice Heath, visit www.RecyclingToday.com/page/circular-economy-perspectives.)