(Business Wire) HANOI, Vietnam --(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dow and DEEP C signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build the first road using recycled plastics at the DEEP C Industrial Complex in Haiphong City in Vietnam. The project aims to divert post-use flexible packaging from becoming litter or entering a landfill, while also creating more durable, longer-lasting roads.
A first 1-kilometer segment, to be completed in September 2019, will divert nearly 4 metric tons of flexible packaging – the equivalent of roughly one million pieces of flexible wrappers – which will be supplied by Dow customers in the surrounding areas. Upon completion, the new road will be tested by the Vietnam Maritime University prior to expanding the project throughout the complex.
“Dow has a strong commitment to ending plastic waste, in part by finding innovative ways to transform plastic waste into new products,” said Mr. Ekkasit Lakkananithiphan, general director of Dow Vietnam. “We developed more than 90 kilometers of asphalt roads containing plastic waste in India, Indonesia, Thailand and the US which provides us with foundational knowledge that we can apply for this project in Vietnam.”
Advancing a circular economy was identified as one of Dow’s 2025 Sustainability Goals in 2015. Roads developed with recycled plastic demonstrates that plastic waste can be a valuable renewable resource and contribute toward a plastics circular economy. The plastic waste used in the project is mostly post-consumer flexible packaging, such as polyethylene film. After cleaning, drying and shredding the material, the plastic is mixed with the asphalt at a temperature around 150-180 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the plastic is completely melted and bonded with asphalt resulting in longer lasting, more durable roads. Roads enhanced with recycled plastics also have the potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions by replacing part of the bitumen needed in the asphalt.
“DEEP C pioneers in building and converting industrial zones into eco-industrial parks,” said Mr. Do Quang Hung, first deputy general director of DEEP C HP I & III/Dinh Vu Industrial Zone JSC. “One of the main goals under the eco-park initiative is promoting industrial symbiosis to mitigate and decrease industrial waste.”
The project will engage local governments, waste collectors and the plastic industry value chain to tackle the marine debris and plastic waste issue in Vietnam and to develop better end markets for plastic waste. This cross-industry collaboration shows the commitments each organization has to advancing a circular economy and reducing the amount of waste in the environment.
“Circular economy has been known as a solution for an eco-friendly, durable and sustainable prosperity,” said Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, secretary general of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry cum vice-chairman of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VCCI-VBCSD). “As it is one among our priorities to realize the Sustainable Development Goals at VCCI-VBCSD, we highly appreciate this initiative of Dow as a strong contribution in reducing plastic waste and furthermore, in transforming the urban mobility in Vietnam.”
Vietnam is currently one of the top producers of plastic waste with urban areas like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City seeing an estimated 80 metric tons of plastic waste entering the environment as litter every day.
About Dow in Vietnam
Dow has been present in Vietnam since 1995. The Company today gathers around 110 employees at 03 main locations, including 01 manufacturing site in Dong Nai Province, serving customers in the consumer care, infrastructure and packaging industries. Dow is a partner in Vietnam’s economic growth by adding more value to the country’s advanced manufacturing industries, providing more innovative and sustainable solutions to help Vietnam address the challenges and a caring member of the Vietnamese community. For more information, please visit vn.dow.com
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines one of the broadest technology sets in the industry with asset integration, focused innovation and global scale to achieve profitable growth and become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company. Dow’s portfolio of performance materials, industrial intermediates and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for our customers in high-growth segments, such as packaging, infrastructure and consumer care. Dow operates 113 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 37,000 people. Dow delivered pro forma sales of approximately $50 billion in 2018. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.
About DEEP C
DEEP C was founded in 1997 by Belgian (Rent-A-Port, Ackermans-Van Haaren) and Vietnamese (Hai Phong People’s Committee) shareholders. DEEP C is one of the leading industrial park developers in Vietnam with over 3000Ha of land and ready-built-factories for lease in Haiphong and Quang Ninh Province. DEEP C facilitates its tenants’ operations with utilities provisions (electricity, waste, waste water treatment,) as well as full package of supporting services such as licensing support, recruitment. Recently the DEEP C group has taken big steps to become an eco-industrial park, among these steps are new ventures into renewable energy production. For more information, please visit
About Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD)
VBCSD was approved for establishment by the Government at the Official Letter No.6334/VPCP-KGVX dated 8th September 2010 and was officially launched on 17th December 2010 as a business-led organization with the mandate to promote the active role and strong advocate of business community on the implementation of the Strategic Orientations for Sustainable Development in Vietnam, to facilitate the sharing of experience and good practices, and to strengthen the close coordination and dialogue among business community, the Government and civil organizations for sustainable development. VBCSD is a partner in the global network of World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). For more information please visit vbcsd.vn or follow @VBC4SD on Facebook.