Amcor and Dow are collaborating to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon packaging solutions by brands and retailers.
The collaboration brings together Amcor’s packaging development and manufacturing expertise with Dow’s low-carbon PE, materials science and carbon footprint expertise.
The companies will identify packaging applications that are technically and commercially viable, involve value chain partners early in the adoption process and provide carbon footprint information to support packaging decisions.
Reduce adoption risks
Keith Cleason, business president, packaging and specialty plastics at Dow, said the companies were testing a commercial model based on market-based mechanisms to reduce adoption risks and support the commercialisation of low-carbon packaging.
David Clark, chief sustainability officer at Amcor, said low-carbon PE could provide brands with a way to reduce the carbon footprint of packaging without changing its technical or design requirements.
The collaboration will use Dow’s Carbon Footprint Ledger methodology, which is based on existing industry approaches to mass balance in greenhouse gas accounting.
According to the companies, the methodology provides independently assured product carbon footprint information aligned with standards including ISO 14067 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Standard.
Visibility of climate impact
Amcor and Dow said the approach is intended to give customers greater visibility of the climate impact associated with packaging choices as they consider lower-carbon alternatives.
The collaboration reflects the role of coordinated action across the packaging value chain in addressing Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, which include indirect emissions across a company’s value chain.
The announcement follows several recent changes to Amcor’s senior leadership team. In June, Ryan Yost was appointed division president of global flexible packaging solutions, while Kate Pearlman joined as senior vice-president for investor relations and treasury.
