The project pilots a circular economy solution to turn post-consumer recycled plastics into new, valuable resources
HAIPHONG, Vietnam – Dow and DEEP C Industrial Zones recently completed the first asphalt road enhanced with recycled plastics at a DEEP C industrial zone in Haiphong, Vietnam. The project is a collaboration between Dow and DEEP C to provide innovative solutions to address plastics waste and advance a circular economy in Vietnam.The completion of the first 200-meter section of road was inaugurated during a ceremony where leaders from Dow and DEEP C were joined by H.E. Mr. Paul Jansen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Vietnam, and representatives from Haiphong People’s Committee and its related departments.
“Dow is working to find new uses for post-consumer plastics to advance a circular economy, retain the value of plastics and keep waste out of the environment,” said Mr. Ekkasit Lakkananithiphan, general director of Dow in Vietnam. “The project value chain is an impressive display of cross-sector collaboration – it brings together local governments, infrastructure investors, asphalt suppliers, waste collectors and the material science industry to help tackle the plastic waste issue in Vietnam.”
“The launch of our first recycled plastic road marks a significant milestone in DEEP C’s journey to become the pilot eco-industrial park in Vietnam,” said Mr. Bruno Jaspaert, general director of DEEP C Industrial Zones. “These durable, safe new roads not only benefit DEEP C and our tenants, but also serve as a powerful message as Vietnam places plastic waste management as a top environmental priority.”
“This asphalt plastics road project is an excellent example of how businesses are accompanying the Government on the sustainable development journey generally and a proper reply to the recent call of the Prime Minister to fight against plastic waste particularly,” said Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, VCCI General Secretary cum VBCSD Vice Chair. “This model should certainly be replicated in more and more areas hence.”The next phase of the project will be completed by November 2019, bringing the total road length to 1.4 km. It will divert a total of 6.5 metric tons of flexible packaging from becoming litter or entering landfills – the equivalent of more than 1.7 million flexible wrappers.
The post-consumer recycled plastic, mostly flexible packaging such as polyethylene film, is sourced from local waste collector URENCO Haiphong. The recycled plastics are cleaned, dried and shredded before being mixed with aggregate at a temperature between 150 and 180 degrees Celsius. Once mixing is complete, the asphalt is then paved, resulting in longer lasting, more durable roads.
Before the actual pavement, two laboratory tests were conducted by Vietnam Maritime University with the outcomes satisfying Vietnamese technical and safety requirements. Upon successful execution of the project, more asphalt roads using recycled plastics will be stretched all over the DEEP C Industrial Zones.
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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 www.deepc.vn
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.
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.
For further information please contact:
Nguyen Hoai Son
Dow
+84-902610366
hnguyen9@dow.com
Hans Kerstens
+84-904482898
hans.kerstens@deepc.vn
Pham Hoang Hai
+84-913545183
haiph@vcci.com.vn