Bio-based stretch films address brand owners’ increasing demand for renewable plastics that reduce carbon footprint without compromising performance
HORGEN, Switzerland and Värnamo, Sweden – May 5th, 2020 – Dow (NYSE: DOW), and stretch film manufacturer Doxa Plast together announce the commercialization of a family of bio-based high-performance stretch films aimed at addressing the increasing demand for more sustainable solutions that use alternative renewable feedstocks helping to reduce carbon footprint.
Reborn, the new range of stretch films by Doxa Plast, integrates Dow’s bio-based linear low-density polyethylene, ELITE™ 5230GC R Enhanced Polyethylene Resin, which is produced from renewable feedstock. The feedstock comes from residues of paper production from sustainably managed forests in Finland. Unlike other alternative renewable feedstocks, it does not compete with the human food chain, and no extra land is required for its production. The films are produced in Doxa’s factory in Sweden, which due to the short supply chain also contributes to reducing carbon footprint.
“This joint effort is the latest example of Dow’s ambition to work with industry partners to enable a shift to a circular economy for plastics by integrating recycled content and renewable feedstocks into production processes”, said Carolina Gregorio, marketing manager at Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics EMEA. “We are continuously exploring alternative feedstocks to reduce the amount of fossil fuel resources required for production. We’re proud to see these solutions helping converters and brand owners meet their sustainability packaging goals.”
The new bio-based stretch film range is optimized for downgauging without compromising on functionality. Using a patented technology, Doxa Plast offers thin stretch films down to four microns of thickness, while maintaining high level performance for improved load pallet stability and reducing overall packaging material.
“Our vision for 2020 is to offer our customers the option to choose carbon neutral versions of all our products. Dow’s bio-based resins are a major contributor to help us achieve this because they enable us to move towards a carbon neutral stretch film,” said Sandra-Stina Vesterlund, managing director at Doxa Plast. “Our new Reborn family of sustainable solutions make it possible to reduce, reuse, recycle and redefine plastics without compromising performance and therefore meet our customer’s business and sustainability needs. At Doxa Plast we do not compromise, we stretch the possibilities”.
Dow’s bio-based polyethylene portfolio is produced using bio-naphtha from tall oil, which is a byproduct of paper pulp production. This new supply chain from bio-feedstocks enables a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to standard fossil-derived PE resins. In addition, our PE resins production is certified by ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) based on a mass balance approach. This approach helps industries become more sustainable by supporting the sourcing of sustainable ingredients within complex manufacturing or production systems, meaning all steps meet traceability criteria.
About Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics
Packaging and Specialty Plastics (P&SP), a business unit of Dow (NYSE: DOW), combines core strengths of R&D, worldwide reach, broad product lines and industry expertise to deliver high performing technologies for end use markets in food packaging, personal hygiene, infrastructure, consumer goods and transportation. P&SP is one of the world’s largest producers of polyethylene resins, functional polymers, and adhesives, and enabled by Pack Studios, is a leading innovator and collaborator across the value chain on sustainable application development and circular economy life-cycle design for plastics. www.dowpackaging.com
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation and leading business positions to achieve profitable growth. The Company’s ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company. Dow’s portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure and consumer care. Dow operates 109 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 36,500 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $43 billion in 2019. 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 Doxa Plast
Doxa Plast in Värnamo is a company founded 1993 by Stig Claesson. The Claesson family has always been driven to achieve superior abilities by thinner stretch film. Doxa is a leading brand in inventing new solutions to meet the markets demand for sustainable stretch film. In 2013 the unique patent for “Doxess” revolutionized the market and has since then been the thinnest stretch film. By reducing, reusing, recycling and redefine plastics, Doxa Plastics has made a mark in the industry and revealing themselves as a cutting-edge innovator. Reborn is an important step to prove the solution for sustainable plastics is a reachable goal. For more information, please visit www.doxaplastics.com.