Month: July 2024

Acquisition of Circulus will add capacity of 50,000 metric tons of recycled materials annually to advance progress towards Dow’s 2030 Transform the Waste goal

MIDLAND, Mich., July 15, 2024 /3BL/ – Dow (NYSE: DOW) announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Circulus, a leading recycler of plastic waste into post-consumer resin (PCR). This transaction includes two facilities, one in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and another in Arab, Alabama, with a total capacity of 50,000 metric tons per year. Dow expects the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2024, subject to customary regulatory approval.

“This acquisition will allow Dow to combine our Company’s industry leading materials science technology with Circulus’ film recycling expertise to accelerate progress towards our 2030 Transform the Waste goal,” said Karen S. Carter, president, Packaging & Specialty Plastics. “It will also expand how we participate in the industry, allowing us to generate value for our customers by directly producing more higher performing circular products that brands and consumers are demanding.”

Dow’s expertise in materials science and high-performance resins combined with Circulus’ mechanical film recycling capability will allow Dow to enhance its offerings in applications, such as collation shrink packaging, stretch film, liners and select food packaging, to a wider range of applications in the industrial, consumer, and transportation markets.

“The Circulus team is excited to move forward with Dow in advancing a circular economy. Circulus leverages the best technology available to advance the recycling of plastic packaging waste,” said Mike Dulin, CEO, Circulus. “Our leadership team brings more than 65 years of combined experience in the recycling and plastics industries, resulting in high quality and sustainably produced resins, suitable for upcycled applications.”

This transaction supports Dow’s efforts, announced earlier, to transform plastic waste and other forms of alternative feedstocks into 3 million metric tons of circular and renewable solutions annually by 2030. To do this, Dow is building industrial ecosystems to collect, reuse or recycle waste and expand its portfolio to meet rapidly growing demand.

About Dow  
Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employ approximately 35,900 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $45 billion in 2023. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.

For further information, please contact:

Mary Fournier  
Dow  
+1 989-636-7475  
mkfournier@dow.com 

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SOURCE The Dow Chemical Company

Originally published on 3M News Center

3M recently participated in a White House-sponsored event with an aim to help advance educational excellence, equity, and economic opportunity for Black Americans. The event, part of the Power Up Series, was hosted by Malcolm X College in Chicago along with co-collaborator Discovery Education. The Power Up Series consists of a collection of national, local, and virtual engagements in the Black community that will serve as critical touchpoints as well as highlight best practices and resources.

3M engineer Deboarh Isabelle was a panelist at the event. She had the opportunity to connect with students and share her passion for STEM, offer career advice, detail the importance of mentorship and more.

Q: Talk about feeling connected to the event’s mission. 
A: The conference was filled with excitement and energy. It was invigorating to celebrate Black excellence as a counternarrative to the negative news stories. There was a call to build out systems of care to support the whole learner. The educators and community members in attendance were focused on tangible suggestions for building system to improve and sustain the success of Black students through the education system and ensure that they are prepared for all opportunities in the workforce.

As we look to prepare students for success, there was great information shared about how schools providing well-rounded students, create higher performing students regardless of the urban or rural demographic. Arts, music, and other areas that tend to be considered luxuries in times of fiscal challenges, are critical to producing the next generation with the skills that we need.

I was fortunate to have parents and people around me who made sure I saw possibilities and role models. I feel compelled to offer myself as a role model of a Black/African American female engineer who is entirely the product of public education. I am the product of positive investment by my community and of positive investment in the public school system.

Q: Were there any unexpected connections or meaningful moments? 
A: In addition to the great energy and information shared, it was great to make connections in some different circles than I normally do in my day job as a product engineer. The cross disciplinary interactions are important for our collective success.

In my conversation with the high school students, I shared examples of roles at 3M across the spectrum from finance to business to research to manufacturing. When asked about transferable skills, I offered three that I consider important – being a good/effective team player, being able to communicate effectively, and attention to detail.

On the Exploring Career Pathways and Workforce Development panel, I shared the importance of each of us to making a positive difference in the world. It was a belief that my parents lived out and one that I strive to emulate.

Q: What was a highlight for you? 
A: One of the best parts of the conference was being able to connect again in person with my mentee, the 2023 3M Top Young Scientist, Heman Bekele. Heman is bright, passionate, and charismatic. Spending time with him is always inspiring.