At Dow, protecting people and the environment is part of everything we do and every decision we make. Each employee has a responsibility in ensuring our products and operations meet applicable government or Dow standards, whichever are more stringent.
The Dow Chemical Company is committed to a “Vision of Zero”—zero incidents, injuries, illnesses and zero environmental harm. Our goal is to eliminate all injuries, prevent adverse environmental and health impacts, reduce waste and emissions, and promote conservation at every stage of the life cycle of our products.
Dow Canada has made major strides in reducing its impact on the environment. From 1996-2005, our Canadian operations reduced emissions of priority compounds—29 compounds listed as persistent, toxic, bio-accumulative, carcinogenic, ozone-depleting or high volume toxic substances—by 94 percent. For example, in 2001, Environment Canada and Dow agreed on a five-year voluntary control action approach, implementing a management strategy for 1,2-dichloroethane (EDC) to minimize emissions at the Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, production facility and the North Vancouver, British Columbia, distribution facility. This Environmental Performance Agreement successfully reduced EDC emissions by approximately 70 per cent, well exceeding the 50 per cent target.
By 2015, Dow will make publicly accessible safety assessments for its products globally, addressing relevant gaps in hazard and exposure information.
We have strong roots in the communities in which we operate thanks to the efforts of our employees. Our community efforts center on enhancing sustainability and quality of life, including educational outreach and environmental improvement projects.
The Employee Involvement Program (EIP) rewards the organizations with which Dow employees volunteer by providing $500 grants. Most notably, youth sports programs have benefited from EIP grants. Dow’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity has provided the opportunity to build homes for low-income families, which are made more energy efficient using donated Dow STYROFOAM™ insulation.
