Global PE heavyweight Dow recently introduced a line of resins containing 30-100% PCR for use in cable jacketing applications.
The new resins are the latest addition to the company’s Revoloop line of high-, medium- and low-density linear PE, which incorporates mechanically recycled PCR, said Edit Berczi, Switzerland-based global marketing manager for the wire and cable segment at Dow.
Revoloop resins contain 30-100% PCR, she said, with the amount varying by product type and region. The recycled resin for cable jacketing is available in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
“The major factor determining the composition of PCR-containing products is the PCR source material,” Berczi said. “A well-characterized raw material is critical to supporting quality control and product safety in product development, commercialization and qualification.”
Dow leverages regional resources to secure “a dependable, consistent flow” of feedstock, she added. Regardless of the source, Dow rigorously tests its PCR products to ensure they have performance, durability and reliability similar to traditional materials used in cable jacketing applications.
In a move toward vertical integration, Dow also recently announced plans to buy mechanical film recycler Circulus.
“This acquisition expands how we participate in the industry, allowing us to generate value for our customers by directly producing more higher performing circular products like PCR that brands and consumers are demanding,” Berczi said.
And in India, Dow in 2020 launched its first digital waste platform, a plastics take-back program that connects waste generators, collectors, processors and recyclers.
Among Dow’s plastic waste targets is a goal to commercialize 3 million metric tons of circular and renewable products per year by 2030. Volumes included in that total must meet three criteria: They’re sold through Dow, a subsidiary or a third-party service, they’re made or transformed from bio-based and/or waste-based raw materials, and the circular content must be measurable and auditable.
