Dow Focuses on Innovation and Sustainability at Pack Expo International 2010

CHICAGO, Nov. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") today announced it will showcase its latest innovations in technology and sustainability to customers at Pack Expo International 2010.  Hosted by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute, Pack Expo runs from November 1-3 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.

Under the theme, "Right Here, Right for You," Dow will highlight the strengths of its plastics franchise by underscoring the Company's long history of innovation, deep relationships with customers and its commitment to the future.

"Dow is a leading supplier of essential plastics materials, adhesives and solutions around the world.  This leadership position is due to Dow's ability to deliver highly valued, meaningful solutions and sustainable, breakthrough innovations," said Glenn Wright, Dow's Commercial Vice President, North America Plastics.  "Dow's people have a passion for solving customer challenges and exceeding their expectations.  In fast-paced consumer-driven marketplaces like packaging, sustainability-focused innovations are front and center." 

Last year, Dow invested $1.6 billion in research and development, leveraging technology assets like its Film Application Development Center and new Rigid Application Development Center. These innovation centers were created to design and develop new products and applications, often specifically for one customer.  The goal is to bring new technologies to the marketplace quickly, according to Stacy Fields, Dow's Marketing Manager for Consumer and Industrial Containers in North America.

"The Rigid Application Development Center allows Dow to collaborate with its customers, provide developmental programs and prototypes based on new resins, and facilitate new or improved packaging application development programs," said Fields.  "A benefit to Dow's customers is the ability to conduct new resin testing at the Center so customers don't have to take the time required to shut down their own operations to do testing."

New and differentiated offerings that grow customer market share and margins are the main goals of these Application Development Centers, which continue to drive innovation of existing products such as CONTINUUM™ EP Polyethylene Resins and applications for stretch hooder and low density shrink.

Dow is also introducing SEALUTION™ Peel Polymers and AMPLIFY™ TY Functional Polymers at Pack Expo this year. SEALUTION Peel Polymers is a ready-to-use, single pellet formulation that offer reliable and versatile performance for easy-open packaging, while AMPLIFY TY Functional Polymers are an extension of the AMPLIFY portfolio with a new range of products specifically designed for use in sophisticated multi-layer food packaging. These polymers join Dow's overall portfolio of specialty products for the global food and beverage packaging marketplace.

A leader in plastics sustainability, Dow pioneered plastics from renewable resources and continues to research and develop sustainability solutions to help customers reduce their carbon footprint.  In Brazil, Dow is working to develop polyethylene from sugar cane.  And in North America, Dow is studying ways to harness energy contained in non-recyclable plastics to offset fossil fuel use.

In support of its 100 percent recyclability goal, Dow will be using recyclable polypropylene plastic cups at Pack Expo, which will be collected by the City of Chicago as part of its recycling program.  

"Sustainability remains a core component of all we do at Dow," said Jeff Wooster, North American Plastics Sustainability Leader for Dow. "It is ingrained in all R&D, testing and planning. Moving forward, Dow will continue to offer long-term, sustainable solutions to our customers at every point in the value chain including the consumer."

Dow resins are used in the manufacturing of many components found in rigid and flexible packaging, from bottles and caps to food and specialty packaging.

"Dow is committed to offering the right solutions for each individual customer and accelerating marketplace driven innovations," said Kip Thomson, Marketing Director for Dow's Industrial and Consumer Packaging North America market segment. "Pack Expo is a great forum for connecting with customers one-on-one and discussing how we can work together to create the next generation of products."

About Dow

Dow combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

SOURCE The Dow Chemical Company