Our objectives...
- To enhance resource productivity to reduce risk, minimize Dow’s impact on the environment and health, and increase global competitiveness through greater efficiency
- To prevent pollution in our processes
- To transfer and use the best available technology throughout the Dow world to build the most environmentally sound and safe facilities
Goals for Emissions, Waste, and Energy
Our objective is to reduce the impact of our global operations on air and water quality by reducing:
- Chemical emissions by 50 percent
- Priority compounds by 75 percent
- Dioxin emissions by 90 percent
- Waste and waste water generated per pound of production by 50 percent
- Energy use per pound of production by 20 percent
For reference, the global production data is also reported on this page.
Chemical Emissions – Goal: 50% Reduction
We have reduced our chemical emissions by 56 percent since 1994. We have achieved our goal while realizing production increases of 31 percent during this same time period. We not only reduced our existing emissions, but have implemented technology that allowed production growth without increasing emissions.
Emissions of Priority Compounds – Goal: 75% Reduction
We have reduced our emissions of priority compounds by 84 percent since 1994. Even though we achieved our final goal in 2002, we are committed to continue our efforts to meet the challenge of maintaining our emission reductions while increasing production.
Priority compounds include persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) compounds, known human carcinogens, selected ozone depleting substances, and high volume toxic compounds.
- PBTs: Hexachlorobenzene, mercury compounds
- Known Carcinogens: Benzene, Vinyl Chloride, Nickel Compounds, Chromium Compounds, Arsenic Compounds, Asbestos
- Selected Ozone Depletors: Carbon tetrachloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113, CFC-114, CFC-115, CFC-123, CFC-500, CFC-502, CFC-1301, H2402
- High Volume Toxics: Propylene Oxide, 1,2 Dichloropropane, 1,2 Dichlorethane (EDC), 1,3 Butadiene, Chloroform, Epichlorohydrin, Ethylene Oxide, Formaldehyde, Acrylonitrile.
Dioxin Emissions to Air and Water – Goal: 90% Reduction
Note: From 1995 through 1997, Dow was establishing and documenting its 1995 air and water emissions baseline.
In 2005, Dow continued its efforts to control emission sources and identify further improvements, and reported total dioxin air and water emissions of less than eight grams globally for the third year in a row. These emissions have decreased by more than 80 percent, towards a goal of a 90 percent reduction by 2005 – and emissions to air specifically by more than 95 percent – since 1995.
Global Production
Dow’s global production has increased by over 31 percent since 1994. Our historic production data takes into account any divestitures, mergers, and acquisitions and may change to reflect those activities. Our energy use, waste, and wastewater goals are calculated as a percentage of global production.
Waste – Goal: 50% Reduction per Pound of Production
Wastes are materials that receive treatment. We have made a significant reduction of 35 percent since 1994. Our current focus is to find by-product synergies that allow waste to be used or recycled as useful products or raw materials. In addition, our Company sponsored Waste Reduction Always Pays (WRAP) program contributed to over 1.3 Billion pounds in waste reduction since it was initiated. We are above our target line to reduce waste intensity by 50 percent for this particular goal, but we are continuing to investigate ways of reducing waste at the source or finding ways to recycle or reuse it.
Waste Water – Goal: 50% Reduction per Pound of Production
Waste water is aqueous streams that receive treatment before discharge. We have made a significant reduction of 38 percent since 1994. Our primary objective is to eliminate wastewater at the source, but we have also focused on activities to recycle wastewater when feasible. We are above our goal to reduce wastewater intensity by 50 percent, but are committed to continue our source reduction and recycle efforts to reduce fresh water consumption. These activities also support our commitment to work jointly with the public to share and better utilize our water resources.
Energy Use – Goal: 20% Reduction per Pound of Production
Our energy intensity goal has been to reduce the amount of energy needed to produce a pound of product by 20 percent. Our goal of reducing our energy intensity has been exceeded. Overall energy intensity has improved by 22 percent since 1994. In doing so, it has avoided consuming approximately 900 trillion Btu’s. This is in addition to a 20 percent improvement from 1990-1994.
For a list of projects that helped reduce our energy intensity in 2004, please see Energy Efficiency and Conservation Efforts.
