Dow has announced the final results from a collaborative effort at Pack Expo International 2024, concluding that sustainability initiatives were a resounding success. Combined efforts diverted 284.88 tons of waste from landfills, achieving a 51% diversion rate.

Related initiatives also conserved nearly two million gallons of water and over one million kWh of electricity – equivalent to the annual water usage of roughly 15-20 average American households and the electricity usage of roughly 100 – among other environmental savings.

The partnership between Dow, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI), event venue McCormick Place, and waste management provider Independent Recycling Services achieved notable strides in waste diversion and resource conservation on site. Pack Expo International, which aimed to improve circularity measures at the event, demonstrated both the industry’s innovation in circularity and a shared commitment to environmental stewardship. It also showed that collaboration at every level of planning and execution, in concert with key partners, is instrumental to moving toward the gold standard of fully circular events.

Partners developed and implemented a deliberate and comprehensive strategy to minimize the event’s environmental footprint and promote circularity. Serving as Pack Expo International’s official Sustainability Partner, Dow worked jointly with companies on the integration of sustainable practices throughout, reflecting the company’s core belief that sustainability is interwoven into the fabric of its operations.

“At Dow, we believe that collaboration is essential for driving meaningful change,” says Izabel Assis, North America commercial vice president, Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Dow. “For the second consecutive year, Pack Expo International has showcased the power of partnership in advancing circularity within the packaging industry. By working together, we can make significant progress toward our shared sustainability goals. It’s inspiring to see the industry adopt these practices and strive for a circular economy, and we’re excited to keep the momentum going.”

“New partnerships, bolstered by emerging technologies, are transforming how we approach event recycling for the better,” says Cullyn Doerfler, sustainability coordinator at Independent Recycling Services. “The teamwork to improve circularity and sustainability was impressive on its own, and the results highlight just how impactful a unified effort can be. Over the past 47 years, Independent Recycling Services has become one of the leading waste collection and disposal companies in Chicago, and partnerships like this one help us maintain the collaborative and innovative spirit that built our company.”