Dow Corning's waste reduction efforts deliver results

Tags: lean manufacturing

Dow Corning has reported significant progress in waste reduction, including a cut of up to 80 percent in process scrap at one of its manufacturing sites.

The reductions have been achieved in part through the company’s materials conversion program, which converts or recycles its waste, scrap and off-spec silicone materials instead of sending them to landfill or incineration. Materials are then reprocessed into new products that meet customers' specifications.

But the reduction also reflects actions at all operations to reduce waste.

“Waste reduction emerged as the most important environmental issue facing manufacturing businesses nowadays in an international study we commissioned last year,” said Peter Cartwright, Dow Corning executive director for environment, health and safety. “Like many other companies, Dow Corning is actively looking for ways to cut our waste levels.”

Examples of the success in these efforts in Europe include:

Examples in North America include:

Examples in China include:

“Our commitment to sustainability not only factors into the products, processes, technologies and solutions Dow Corning offers,” said Cartwright, “but it also is apparent in our approach to waste reduction during the manufacturing process.”

About Dow Corning
Dow Corning (www.dowcorning.com) provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services via the company’s Dow Corning and XIAMETER brands. Dow Corning is a joint venture equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States.

For information on Dow Corning’s performance on sustainability, go to http://www.dowcorning.com/content/about/sustainability.aspx