Dow Chemical 2011 Annual Report Download - page 31

The Dow Chemical Company
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SMART SOLUTIONS FOR TODAY
Dow technologies enable our customers, and their customers,
to develop more sustainable products and services.
• We are one of the largest producers of innovative products
that reduce energy use. In 2011, we introduced PASCAL™
Technology, a new polyurethane foam insulation technology
that improves energy effi ciency of refrigerators and freezers
by up to 10 percent.
• In 2011, Dow AgroSciences unveiled the fi rst saturated-fat-free
Omega-9 Sunfl ower Oil, helping meet consumer demand for
healthier foods.
• Formaldehyde abatement technology from Dow Coating
Materials enables paint formulations that actually remove
airborne formaldehyde gas – a widespread problem
in nations that use this material in construction and
furniture products.
PARTNERS FOR CHANGE
Dow is collaborating with governments, universities, non-
government organizations, customers and suppliers to help
solve the urgent challenges facing our planet.
• Dow, in partnership with the National Science Teachers
Association, announced a $3 million grant to promote
professional development of nearly 500 new science teachers
over a three-year period. Dow also announced a commitment
to the Chemical Education Foundation for its “You Be the
Chemist“ program, a project to engage students in chemistry
through local, state and national challenges in 30 states.
• In 2011, Dow continued its 28-year partnership with Habitat
for Humanity. A delegation from Dow joined former U.S.
President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in Haiti to
build 100 safe, decent homes in November.
• In October 2011, in collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce’s Business Civic Leadership Center, Dow launched
the International Business Corps. This corporate volunteerism
coalition helps skilled business professionals deploy their
talents to build small-business and non-profi t capabilities
in emerging markets.
RESPONSIBLE OPERATIONS
Responsible operations are at the core of our sustainability
commitment. Our infrastructure has a positive impact on our
Company, our communities and ourselves. Our operations are
a model for others, wherever we operate.
• 2011 was a signifi cant year for environmental, health
and safety achievements and progress toward our
2015 Sustainability Goals. We achieved our best-ever
performance in multiple Local Protection of Human
Health and the Environment categories, including
Personal Safety Severity, Loss of Primary Containment
(LOPC), Hazardous Material Transportation LOPC, Process
Safety and Severity, and Severe Motor Vehicle Accidents.
• The Company’s energy-effi ciency efforts have prevented
more than 95 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2)
from entering the atmosphere and contributed cost
savings of $24 billion.
• Our insulation products contribute to greater energy
effi ciency, helping to avoid hundreds of millions of metric
tons of CO2 emissions each year. In fact, the emissions
avoided as a result of these products outpace Dow’s own
emissions by more than six times on an annual basis.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(millon metric tons of CO2-equivalent, Kyoto and non-Kyoto)
47
48
45
42
40
38
224
235
244
253
260
269
Direct and Indirect
Absolute GHG Emissions
from Operations
Avoided Emissions
Attributable to Dow
Insulation in Service
20051990* ‘07 ‘06 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10
*Estimate
• Since 1990, Dow has prevented more than 200 million
metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from entering
the atmosphere and reduced its greenhouse gas emissions
footprint by more than 30 percent.
Through Dow’s breakthrough collaboration
with The Nature Conservancy, we are
demonstrating the power of factoring
biodiversity and ecosystem services into corporate decision-making.
Work has begun at the collaboration‘s fi rst pilot site, Dow’s Texas
Operations in Freeport, where scientists from both organizations
are conducting analyses of fresh water, air quality mitigation
and coastal natural hazard mitigation. 29
2011 Annual Report