Dow to Help Lead $1 Billion Global Alliance to End Plastic Waste in the Environment

Dow is playing a lead role in the formation of a new alliance of global companies to advance solutions that eliminate plastic waste in the environment, especially in the ocean.

Dow is a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), a newly formed organization committing more than $1 billion with the goal of raising $1.5 billion over the next five years to develop and scale solutions that manage plastic waste and promote post-use solutions of plastic. The Alliance, currently comprised of nearly 30 companies, will develop and bring to scale solutions that will minimize and manage plastic waste and promote solutions by transitioning to a circular economy for plastics. The Alliance membership represents global companies and organizations located throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

“Keeping our environment free of waste is important to the future of Dow and our industry, but more importantly, it’s important to the future of our planet,” said Jim Fitterling, chief executive officer of Dow. “This initiative brings together companies, governments, NGOs and consumers to accelerate efforts to drive innovation, provide much-needed resources, and take decisive action to put an end to plastic waste in the environment.”

The Alliance is a not-for-profit organization that includes companies from across the global plastics and consumer goods value chain, including chemical and plastic manufacturers, consumer goods companies, retailers, converters, and waste management companies, along with a strategic partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

The Alliance will make investments and drive progress in four key areas:

• Infrastructure development to collect and manage waste and increase recycling;
• Innovation to advance and scale new technologies that make recycling and recovering plastics easier and create value from all post-use plastics;
• Education and engagement of governments, businesses, and communities to mobilize action; and,
• Clean up concentrated areas of plastic waste already in the environment, particularly the major conduits of waste, like rivers, that carry land-based plastic waste to the ocean.

“Solving this critical world challenge will require a diverse set of solutions developed by an equally diverse group of stakeholders,” said Fitterling. “The Alliance to End Plastic Waste brings together some of the most innovative minds in the world, allowing us to explore, develop and implement those solutions.”