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Sustainable Packaging

Dow offers a broad technology portfolio along with application expertise to help companies design packaging that delivers on sustainability and performance.

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Sustainable Packaging

Discover our solutions for packaging with improved sustainability—from designing for recyclability, to incorporating recycled plastics, reducing carbon footprint and more. Packaging with improved sustainability can help companies meet goals, targets and regulations set to protect our planet. Companies must consider the sustainability profile of the packaging as well as the impact of product loss should the packaging fail. Dow offers a technology portfolio and application expertise to help companies design packaging that delivers on sustainability and performance.

Dow is committed to close the loop for packaging by helping companies design for recyclability. Our technology portfolio is engineered to support lightweight, mono-material or compatible material structures that achieve the performance properties required. Our scientists are highly skilled at helping redesign complex structures and through Pack Studios new designs can be tested and proven. Explore these packaging applications to learn about the specific ways we can help you design for recyclability.  

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Food Packaging

Achieve the properties you need, like moisture and oxygen barrier, optics and more, while designing for recyclability.

PCR Water Bottles

Industrial Films

Design for recyclability without compromising on the tough performance required for industrial applications.

Three Surlyn bottles on grey background.

Cosmetic Packaging

Enjoy design freedom while you also design for recyclability.

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Caps and Closures

Transition to polyethylene caps and closures as you design for recyclability.

Mechanical Performance

Compatibilizer

There is value in waste, and we’re working to transform waste into circular and renewable solutions that contribute to sustainable packaging.  

Incorporate post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics

REVOLOOP™ Recycled Plastics Resins are a single-pellet solution to easily incorporate post-consumer recycled plastics into your packaging applications. Dow offers commercial grades across the world, in collaboration with local recycling partners and waste management companies. This family of PCR-rich resins offer tested and proven performance for a range of packaging applications. 

REVOLOOP recycled plastics resins pellets

REVOLOOP™ Recycled Plastics Resins

To learn more about the benefits of our PCR-rich resins, grades available in your region, and suitable applications visit our REVOLOOP™ Recycled Plastics Resins page. 

Circular plastics 

Dow is working to commercialize circular plastic resins developed from used plastic that have been transformed by advanced/chemical recycling into virgin quality resins. These circular resins can offer the same tailored performance as virgin resins and are suitable for food-grade and medical-grade applications.  

Our partnerships with recycling technology companies such as Mura Technology, a global pioneer of innovative recycling process solutions, are helping to scale and accelerate the commercial availability of circular plastics.  

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Bio-based plastics 

Agricultural waste and residue can be transformed into feedstocks to produce bio-based plastics for sustainable packaging. Dow is working with partners to source bio-based or bio-circular feedstocks to produce our trusted plastic resins. We have already launched this technology for footwear applications and hot-melt adhesives. Explore these developments and more through our Ecolibrium™ Bio-Based Technology platform.  

Sustainable packaging can help protect the climate – through reducing the carbon footprint of the packaging, as well as protecting against spoilage.  

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that in 2017 global food waste resulted in 9.3bn tonnes of CO2-equivalent (GtCO2e) emissions – roughly the same as the total combined emissions of the US and the EU that same year. We can help safeguard food systems with responsible and sustainable packaging – helping reduce food waste and the attributed carbon emissions. 

Sustainable packaging can also be designed to lower resource demand and minimize carbon footprint through materials selection and structure design. Innovative materials like INNATE™ ST Polyethylene Resins allow for thinner film designs meaning less material required to achieve comparable performance. Lifecycle analysis can also provide metrics to inform science-based materials design and selection. 

The outside of Pack Studios Freeport

Pack Studios

Accelerate the future of packaging. Our innovation locations around the world and network of partners can accelerate the design and development process of sustainable packaging.

APR recognized products

Since 2016, Dow has been honored to have products recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers’ prestigious APR Design® Recognition Program.

Sustainable packaging news and events

Sustainable packaging for P&G

News | 19 June 2023

Dow partners with P&G China to enable recyclability of air capsule e-commerce packaging. Delivering an effective and efficient way to protect products while avoiding excessive packaging. 

Renewable plastic materials from corn residue

News | 25 May 2023

Dow and New Energy Blue announce collaboration to develop renewable plastic materials from corn residue. First-of-its-kind agreement in North America would create bio-based ethylene for Dow's U.S. Gulf Coast assets to produce renewable plastics across fast-growing end-markets. 

Partnering for a circular economy in Argentina

News | 22 May 2023

Dow Partners with Delterra to promote a circular economy in Argentina through Rethinking Recycling program.

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Polymers with purpose

Visit our online hub to explore everything Dow is doing to innovate through low-carbon circular plastics solutions. 

Connect with Dow

We are committed to connecting you with experts and resources to tackle any challenge.