Green Footprint Project Generation forward in sustainability & performance
Dow Italia s.r.l. Green Footprint Project Dow Italia is a diversified chemical company, offering a large range of chemical products and services in Italy and in the European market. Dow Italia operates in Italy through five production facilities located all over the country, with its headquarters in Milan. Dow Italia is a subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company. Dow combines the power of science and technology with the Human Element to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation. Dow s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7 billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The Company s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 countries across the globe. Dow believes that connecting chemistry and innovation can generate new ways to solve challenges and exceed customer expectations. The company believes that taking the extra step to be socially responsible does not hold us back, but instead sets us apart. Dow believes in the worth of our people, in the value of each individual employee and their differing experiences, backgrounds and perspectives. Dow believes in the power of difference. Every day, we strive to build a culture that embraces innovation, responsibility and diversity. More information about Dow can be found al www.dow.com
Dow Italia s.r.l. Green Footprint Project The Green Footprint Project is led by Dow Italia, s.r.l., in cooperation with Mondial Suole, a leading Italian soles manufacturer, with the support of the European Community Life Financial program. The purpose of the Green Footprint project is to showcase the production and introduction of shoes made from enhanced bio-based Dow polyurethane systems that feature VORALAST TM R Renewable Resources Technology from Dow.
Dow Italia s.r.l. Green Footprint Project
Dow Italia s.r.l. Green Footprint Project Background and Challenges The global footwear industry is diverse, fast moving and increasingly reliant on new materials and technologies to meet the growing consumer needs for high performance products with reduced impact on the environment. Important challenges for the chemical industry relate to the scarcity and high price of petroleum-based resources. These challenges call for a viable alternative to the commonly employed but environmentally unfriendly materials such as 100% fossil-derived polyurethanes (PU). High quality PU systems, with a substantial content of renewable resources, have not yet been developed to market scale for demanding products such as shoes. This is largely due to technical difficulties surrounding the poor physical properties and bad odour typically associated with use of bio-based raw materials. There are also problems with getting adequate R&D resources into this field. However, research and development results at Dow Chemical led to a patented process to produce Natural Oil Polyols. Dow is dedicated to meet the evolving needs in the global footwear industry. Applying high class innovations in material science, Dow drives innovation and sustainability with advanced solutions that offer exceptional performance. One of the ways Dow is committed to delivering a sustainable future is by helping customers to develop innovative solutions that also help to protect the environment in terms of lower energy demand for the renewable feedstock production versus traditional raw materials, including Adipic Acid. The Green Footprint project has investigated possible alternative to oil derivates with Natural Renewable Resources and has reached outstanding results!
Dow Italia s.r.l. Green Footprint Project Main Results and Experiences The purpose of the Green Footprint project is to showcase the production and introduction of shoes made from enhanced bio-based Dow polyurethane systems that feature VORALAST TM R Renewable Resources Technology from Dow VORALAST TM R solutions are based on polyester polyols that contain renewable raw materials; approx. 78% of the total carbon is coming from renewable chemistry. Renewable content can easily reach up to 30% by weight on average and can achieve up to 35% of the total weight. Additionally, VORALAST TM R solutions contain renewable materials not originating from the cultivation of land. For this reason, the materials do not compete with food sources. Moreover, VORALAST TM R renewable content grade polyurethane systems show competitive functional and economic advantages that are typical of PU, including: Lightweight suitable for the production of sandals, slippers and midsoles for sport shoes Toughness, comfort and excellent wear delivering an excellent durability and flexibility required by the Casual and Sneakers segments Oil and solvent resistance typically required by the Safety shoe segment VORALAST TM R Renewable Systems offer distinct sustainable attributes without compromising performance; A Dow Chemical Company study Life cycle assessment of polyurethanes for shoe soles with at least 30% renewable (bio-based) content: The Green Footprint Project * has shown the following: Approx. 54% lower GWP (Global Warming Potential) for PU soles made with VORALAST TM R Approx. 84% lower GWP for the raw polyol Approx. 25% lower CED (Cumulative Energy Demand) for the raw polyol In addition to performance advantages, Dow polyurethane systems utilizing VORALAST TM R Renewable Resource Technology can provide many significant environmental advantages to the polyurethane manufacturing process, including: Reducing Fossil Fuel usage, up to 30% Lowering energy cost, up to 22% Reducing Carbon Footprint, up to 50% These data are an important contribution to sustainability, helping the environment, ourselves and our children for a better future.
Dow Italia s.r.l. Green Footprint Project Dissemination Different main channels were used for project dissemination. Scientific publications: Satra Bulletin (April 2009) The Newsbundle (May 2009) Chemie magazine (May 2009) REInvent 2010 Ambiente ( Dow Italia e i suoi progetti May 2011) Ars Sutoria ( Una nuova generazione di sistemi poliuretanici per la sostenibilita e le prestazioni nell industria calzaturiera ) Federchimica ( Una nuova generazione di sistemi poliuretanici per la sostenibilita e le prestazioni nell industria calzaturiera ) Chemie magazine Satra Bulletin ( Dow develops renewable polyurethane for footwear industry February 2012) Conferences: Desma Open House, Achim, Bremen (D) New voralast R sustainable soling material, September 2010 LCA XI, Chicago USA, The impact of bio-feedstock choice on the LCA of renewable shoe soles October 2011 Internet: Web site of Chimica 2011 ( Una nuova generazione di sistemi poliuretanici per la sostenibilita e le prestazioni nell industria calzaturiera ) Footwearbiz.com ( Generations Forward for Sustainability & Performance in the Footwear Industry )
Dow Italia s.r.l. Green Footprint Project The LIFE programme is the EU s funding instrument for the environment. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects with European added value. LIFE began in 1992 and to date there have been three complete phases of the programme (LIFE I: 1992-1995, LIFE II: 1996-1999 and LIFE III: 2000-2006). During this period, LIFE has co-financed some 3104 projects across the EU, contributing approximately 2.2 billion to the protection of the environment. LIFE+ (2007 2013) The current phase of the programme, LIFE+, runs from 2007-2013 and has a budget of 2.143 billion. The legal basis for LIFE+ is the Regulation (EC) No 614/2007. LIFE+ covers both the operational expenditure of DG Environment and the co-financing of projects. According to Article 6 of the LIFE+ Regulation, at least 78 percent of the LIFE+ budgetary resources must be used for project action grants (i.e. LIFE+ projects). During the period 2007-2013, the European Commission will launch one call for LIFE+ project proposals per year. Proposals must be eligible under one of the programme s three components: LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity, LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance, and LIFE+ Information and Communication. Our project benefited from the LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance programme. LIFE+ Environment Policy & Governance The Environment Policy & Governance component continues and extends the former LIFE Environment programme. It will cofinance innovative or pilot projects that contribute to the implementation of European environmental policy and the development of innovative policy ideas, technologies, methods and instruments. It will also help monitor pressures (including the long-term monitoring of forests and environmental interactions) on our environment. More information about the LIFE Programme can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
For more information, please visit www.dow.com/greenfootprint/eu/it/ or contact us at voralast@dow.com. USA & Canada: 1-800-441-4369 1-989-832-1426 Europe: +800-3-694-6367 +31-11567-2626 Latin America: +55-11-5188-9000 Pacific: +800-7776-7776 +603-7965-5392 About Dow Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe.more information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com. Dow, The Dow Diamond logo, VORALAST and VORALAST-R are registered