Overview:
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international treaty that operates under the auspices of the United Nations to control certain chemicals that are considered to be persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are also known as persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances (PBTs). Such chemical substances are of particular concern to Dow, the chemical industry, and the public because they have the potential to cause adverse effects on human health and/or the environment.
The countries that have adopted or ratified the Stockholm Convention have agreed to take the steps necessary, through national legislation, to “virtually eliminate” sources of listed POPs. Representatives of these countries meet regularly to evaluate the status of implementing the convention and to review nominations of new POPs to be listed under the convention.
Impact to Dow:
Of the chemical substances listed as POPs under the Stockholm Convention, one - DDT - was used by Dow until 2006 as a chemical intermediate to make one product. There are three additional POPs that are unintended by-products of certain Dow manufacturing processes. They are dioxin, hexachlorobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Dow Position:
Dow supports the implementation of the Stockholm Convention and encourages countries to adopt the Convention, particularly the United States, which has not yet ratified the convention. Dow has made significant reductions in the emissions of these three compounds and is committed to continual reductions. Dow publicly reports its emissions of POPs in the United States and Canada, and on Dow’s website.
Dow offers products that contribute value to society in ways that include helping to maintain safe municipal drinking water supplies, modernize transportation, provide life saving medicines and reduce energy consumption of buildings. Dow understands that these benefits do not eliminate the need to continue to reduce environmental emissions of by-products that are classified as POPs. Dow is committed to identifying opportunities to minimize the production and release of chemical substances listed under the Stockholm Convention.
