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At Dow, we believe that developing sustainable solutions to the global water challenge requires a collaborative approach from government, businesses, humanitarian organizations and consumers.
Dow’s efforts in water extend far beyond the purely philanthropic. By actively engaging in a number of ways, we are helping to improve the lives of future generations and furthering the creation of unique solutions that will continue to help meet the needs of our neighbors around the world.
- Dow supports the United Nations Millenium Development Goal to cut in half the number of people without access to safe drinking water by 2015. In support of this goal, Dow is collaborating with an extensive network of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), corporations and government agencies that are attempting to address the global water issue.
- Dow is a leading signatory of the United Nations CEO Water Mandate, a public-private initiative focused on developing strategies and solutions to contribute positively to the emerging global water crisis. The mandate is a comprehensive set of commitments focused on relevant areas of water, including conservation, business solutions and public policy.
- Dow’s Water Solutions (DWS) business is committed to helping provide pure water for both industrial and drinking water applications globally. This business unit has developed world-class technologies that help alleviate water supply problems in an affordable and sustainable way. In countries such as Australia, Saudi Arabia and India, DWS is helping to provide adequate clean water supplies so that more children stay in school, workers are more productive, and industry flourishes.
- Dow has set new levels for efficient water usage at our manufacturing sites, while striving to reach zero water discharge. From 2004 to 2007, Dow reduced its overall use of fresh water by over 10 percent. In Terneuzen, The Netherlands, Dow is collaborating with local authorities and a regional water producer to more efficiently manage wastewater from the municipality. Household wastewater is treated and converted into industrial water for Dow’s manufacturing operations, so the water is re-used and recycled multiple times, minimizing the amount of water discharged and reducing environmental impact.
- Dow AgroSciences, the agricultural subsidiary of Dow, is committing its innovative biotech resources to the development of drought-tolerant crops, including corn and canola. Dow is working with millions of farmers across the globe to produce higher yields, while conserving water.
- Dow is a 30 percent owner of WaterHealth International (WHI), and in 2007 provided a $30 million loan guarantee to help WHI finance 2,000 small water systems that will supply clean water to more than 10 million people in rural India.
- We are committed to a partnership with International Aid, a Michigan based NGO, to provide 2.1 million pounds of plastic which will be used to manufacture 300,000 plastic biosand filters. The filters provide point-of-use water treatment in developing economies. Dow’s commitment will enable International Aid to give 2 million people access to clean drinking water over three years.
As a global leader in science and technology Dow is uniquely positioned to provide breakthrough solutions to the challenge of providing clean and safe drinking water. Through our partnerships, we will build new business models, improve the sustainability of water infrastructure and develop innovative ways to increase awareness of this issue. Our commitment to this critical effort is just one example of how the Human Element at Dow is contributing to more sustainable world.
