Dow Thailand President, Royal Umbrella's COO and Prepack's MD are announcing the collaboration

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BANGKOK, Nov. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Dow (NYSE: DOW) recently announced its collaboration with Royal Umbrella and

Prepack, Thai leading flexible packaging producer under SCG Packaging (SCGP),

to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by optimizing plastic resin used in rice

bags as well as reducing energy use in production. The collaboration utilizes

Dow's sustainable packaging solution INNATE(TM)and down-gauging technology.

The new recyclable rice bags will be launched in 2021 in response to consumers'

demand for environmental-friendly packaging and to address the partners'

sustainability goals.

Royal Umbrella's developmental packaging is Thailand's first brand to use

multi-layer, mono-material polyethylene rice bags made from Dow's innovative

INNATE(TM)precision packaging resins. In spite of a reduction in thickness,

packaging made with Dow's resins will be stronger.

"In the initial phase, it is anticipated that 300 metric tons of plastics will

be reduced which is equivalent to eliminating 600 metric tons of carbon or

planting more than 237 acres of trees. Not only are the mono-material

polyethylene bags easy to recycle, but Royal Umbrella also encourages its

consumers to separate their waste," said Chatchai Luanpolcharoenchai, Dow

Thailand President.

"Our rice bags were previously not recyclable, now Royal Umbrella's plastic

rice bags can be recycled," said Thiti Lujitanon, Royal Umbrella's Chief

Operating Officer. "We are not stopping here. We will take the recyclable bag

to the next level and make our rice bag thinner and stronger while reducing

carbon dioxide emission by using less plastic and lowering the temperatures in

the bag's sealing process. This is aligned with our sustainable goals to

address the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) by

eliminating problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging through redesign and

reinvention, changing single-use plastic packaging to reusable one, and

ensuring 100% of our plastic packaging can be reused or recycled. Royal

Umbrella aims to completely stop using non-recyclable packaging by 2025."

"We are excited to partner with Royal Umbrella, the biggest packaged rice brand

in Thailand, to redesign their packaging to one that meets their sustainability

needs. With INNATE(TM) precision packaging resins, we have successfully

downgauged their existing packaging, reducing the material used while

maintaining the same performance," said Bambang Candra, Asia Pacific commercial

vice president for Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Dow. "As we collectively

advance towards a circular plastics economy, collaborations across the value

chain are increasingly important to reduce plastic waste and support the

country's drive towards a more sustainable future."  

Paradorn Chulajata, Prepack's managing director, said, "To cope with the

growing population and the need for more natural resources, we place importance

on the effective use of resources and caring for nature following the

sustainable development concept. We drive the Circular Economy principles by

maximizing the resources used. We design our products and services to enable

brand owners and consumers to be convenient while using fewer materials. The

offers must also be reusable or recyclable. We improve the production and

process to drive the Circular Economy throughout the whole supply chain using

less water and energy. We are ready to continue driving the principle from

inside-out through our customers and consumers so that all parties aware and

join forces to make a better and sustainable society and the planet."

Consumers can drop off Royal Umbrella's rice bags at the nearest recycling bins

or donate them at more than 350 "Mue Wised x Won" plastic bag drop points by

PPP Plastics in leading department stores in Thailand.

SOURCE:  Dow

Image Attachments Links:

   Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=377060

   Caption: Dow Thailand President (left), Royal Umbrella's Chief Operating Officer

(middle) and Prepack's managing director (right) are announcing the

collaboration to develop a new generation of recyclable rice bag with Dow's

innovative INNATE™ precision packaging resins.

   Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=377062

   Caption: Dow, Royal Umbrella Rice and SCGP