Dow: Fully Cultivate the Chinese Market and Make Sure to "New" in the Future

1979 was the first year that Dow entered the Chinese market.

As one of the first foreign-funded enterprises to enter China, Dow has resonated with the process of China's reform, opening up and rapid development over the past 45 years, continued to expand its business in China, and firmly rooted in China. Today, Dow has a complete network based on commercial institutions, world-leading manufacturing bases and innovation centers in China. Greater China has become Dow's second largest market and largest overseas market in the world.

"We look forward to further meeting the needs of China's high-value downstream consumer market and helping our partners achieve transformation and upgrading in China." In a recent interview with a reporter from China Chemical News, Ms. Zhu Chengyi, President of Dow Greater China, said.

Series of innovative achievements to the Chinese market

Over the past 45 years, Dow has launched a series of innovative achievements and sustainable materials science solutions in China, established and maintained long-term strategic cooperation with partners, and introduced the latest innovative solutions to the Chinese market.

At present, Dow's business in China covers procurement, research and development, production, service and other links. "Our Shanghai Dow Center, located in Shanghai's Zhangjiang High-Tech Park, is Dow's business and innovation hub in the Asia-Pacific region and our largest integrated R & D center outside the United States. Many of our innovations originate here and go to domestic and international markets through Dow's cross-regional R & D partnerships and global supply chain." Zhu Chengyi said.

In terms of production, Dow Zhangjiagang production base is Dow's largest production base in China. Since it was put into operation, a new project or expansion project will be launched every 12 to 18 months. "The products produced here are widely used in rapid development and strategic emerging industries such as domestic automobiles, consumer electronics, new energy, and consumer care. They have made positive contributions to achieving the resilience and localization of the industrial chain and enhancing the competitive advantage of domestic industries." Zhu Chengyi said.

In the face of dynamic market demand, Dow will be China as a starting platform for many innovative achievements. These products demonstrate Dow's efforts to protect the climate, turn waste into treasure and achieve closed-loop, and are the latest results of its long-term investment in promoting sustainable development and packaging circular economy.

"We have participated in the CIIE for 6 consecutive years and have signed more than 30 strategic cooperation agreements and released more than 70 new products and technologies. Many of these technologies are the world's first. This year, Dow will also continue to exhibit and look forward to establishing partnerships with more industry partners through the CIIE platform to bring more innovative material solutions." Zhu Chengyi said. The new energy vehicle industry is another example of Dow's deep cultivation of the Chinese market. Dow's automotive materials solutions focus on lightweight, long life, ride comfort, more reliable safety and a reduced carbon footprint.

At the FIA Formula Electric World Championship, which first landed in Shanghai at the end of May, Dow, as the official materials science partner of Jaguar TCS team, provided a series of technical support such as thermal management materials, adhesives, sustainable materials and EMI shielding materials MobilityScience the platform. Through the actual track, Dow's material solutions show new possibilities for sustainable innovation in the future new energy vehicle industry.Dow also signed a memorandum of understanding with Fusheng Research and Development Company to jointly develop the application of polyolefin elastomer (POE) artificial leather and 3D air fiber mats in the automotive industry, helping the automotive industry to further innovate in lightweight, personalized and comfortable.

In March of this year, Dow's POE artificial leather has successfully achieved commercial mass production in the automotive market and has been applied to new energy car seats. This also marks the world's first commercial application of POE, an innovative animal leather alternative, in car seats.

In recent years, through successful strategic partnerships, many of Dow's innovative sustainable materials solutions have rapidly entered the consumer market. The recyclable all-polyethylene (PE) yogurt packaging bag launched by Dow and Mengniu marks a major breakthrough in dairy packaging. In 2021, this easy-to-recycle packaging solution will also be applied to Liby Group's laundry beads, which is expected to reduce 4000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year by 2025.
 

"Through these exhibitions and strategic cooperation, we look forward to continuing to work hand in hand with upstream and downstream partners to push more innovative material solutions to the new energy vehicle, renewable energy and consumer care markets, and help the high-quality development of China's economy." Zhu Chengyi said.

Practitioners who fulfill the concept of spreading social responsibility

As an important carrier of China's economic cooperation and opening to the outside world, multinational enterprises have promoted China's development in many aspects, such as industry, technology and talents. Transnational enterprises represented by Dow are not only an important part of China's economy, but also practitioners of fulfilling and disseminating the concept of social responsibility in China.

"Sustainability is at the heart of Dow's business growth engine and innovation strategy." In China, Dow is committed to using renewable energy such as hydropower and solar energy in the production process; through carbon dioxide capture technology, etc., to reduce carbon emissions in industrial processes. Through these initiatives, Dow maintains sustainable production and is an industry pioneer in energy conservation and carbon reduction.

In recent years, Dow has proposed the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and has continued to invest in sustainable development. At present, Dow is the largest purchaser of renewable energy in the global chemical industry. The total amount of clean energy used exceeds 1000 MW, and more than 25% of Dow's manufacturing bases have been fully or partially powered by renewable energy. Zhangjiagang Base is also further promoting energy conservation and emission reduction through waste heat recovery, updating distillation towers, and increasing the proportion of green power applications.

Outside the factory wall, Dow is also sparing no effort to promote the concept of sustainable development. The company promotes sustainable solutions in local communities based on local social needs in China, and actively cultivates future innovative talents.

Not long ago, Dow and its partners held a "somewhat interesting" sustainable public welfare market in Jing'an Park, Shanghai, aiming to bring an environmentalist lifestyle closely related to daily life to Shanghai citizens. The bazaar not only showcases various green living concepts, but also encourages the public to understand and practice sustainable lifestyles through participation activities.

Last year, the community garden project of "pottery" garden built by Dow's cooperation applied a large number of green, low-carbon and environment-friendly materials and technologies in photovoltaic energy storage canopies, water-based environmental protection trails and wall painting coatings, rebuilt and upgraded the community garden, and successfully brought a lower carbon and more comfortable living environment to the community.

In addition, Dow also provides a platform for Chinese college students to continuously display and practice innovative ideas, and promote the cultivation of future scientific and technological talents. In cooperation with Fudan University, Dow established the Fudan University-Dow Joint Materials Research Center in 2012. This is the first joint research center established by the Advanced Materials Laboratory of Fudan University in cooperation with a large multinational enterprise. Last year, Dow and Fudan University signed the fourth three-year cooperation agreement to continue to focus on research and development in the field of materials science.

Embrace new opportunities for sustainable materials development

At present, China is in a critical period of high-quality and sustainable development, and the demand for sustainable development, especially high value-added material solutions, is rising. Zhu Chengyi said that in response to these market trends, Dow's growth strategy for Greater China is to pay close attention to areas with growth advantages, make full use of Dow's global resources, combine local development and service capabilities, and achieve cross-business horizontal integration through the "One Dow" operating principle to provide customers with tailor-made solutions.

At present, Dow's strategy focuses on supply chain resilience, cross-platform collaboration and innovative research and development, aiming to keep up with the needs of the Chinese market and seize the fast-growing market opportunities of new energy vehicles, renewable energy and consumer care.

"Dow's sustainability business focuses on climate protection, circular economy and safer materials." Zhu Chengyi introduced that in April 2024, Dow established the company's world's first sustainable development exploration center in Shanghai. The center will be used to carry out activities such as the Sustainability Institute project, customer case studies, and various forums and lectures. Through interactions with customers, value chain partners and other interested parties, Dow will pursue sustainable business opportunities while exploring solutions to environmental issues.

"We are convinced that through our science, global presence and partnerships, we can have a long-term positive impact. Dow will take the 45th anniversary milestone as a new starting point to bring more innovative, sustainable materials solutions to the Chinese market."Zhu Chengyi said firmly.