Dow Inc. and Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) are joining forces to develop a new dissolution-based polyethylene recycling technology.
The companies signed a joint development agreement to create a technology that efficiently converts hard-to-recycle plastic packaging into recycled polyethylene with near-virgin quality and a low greenhouse gas emissions footprint. The partnership is expected to run until the technology is commercialized.
The development program will see Dow and P&G combine their technologies and know-how to the dissolution process, the companies announced in a statement.
Dissolution is based on using a solvent that dissolves one polymer and not other polymers or additives. The process is expected to target polyethylene from post-household plastic waste, especially rigid, flexible and multi-layer packaging. P&G plans to then use the recycled resin in its packaging.
“Dow is committed to transforming plastic waste into circular solutions that can be made into high quality resins demanded by our customers while helping to accelerate a circular economy,” said Dave Parrillo, vice president for research and development, Dow packaging and speciality plastics and hydrocarbons. “We are excited to work with P&G who has similar sustainability goals and commitment to innovation,” he added.
Dow’s sustainability goals include commercializing three million tonnes of circular and renewable solutions by 2030, whereas P&G wants to use 100 percent consumer packaging designed to be recycled or reusable by 2030.
Dow CEO Jim Fitterling said during a 2023 earnings call that mechanical recycling will account for 15 percent of global PE demand by 2050. The remaining 85 percent will be sourced from chemical recycling, bio-based feedstocks, low-carbon solutions and traditional fossil fuels.
Earlier this month, Dow scientists developed a novel polyethylene architecture of long-chain branched PE. It has the potential for reduced carbon emissions in industry scale polyethylene production, the scientist said in a paper published in Science.