Dow (Midland, Michigan / USA; www.dow.com) has left the major US trade organisation the Plastics Industry Association (Plastics, Washington, D.C.; www.plasticsindustry.org), confirmed a Dow spokesperson from the company’s packaging and speciality plastics business.

The decision by Dow not to renew its membership extends a trend of consumer product companies leaving the association. Last year Coca-Cola (Atlanta, Georgia / USA; www.coca-cola.com), PepsiCo (Harrison, New York / USA; www.pepsico.com), GM (Detroit, Michigan / USA; www.gm.com) and SC Johnson (Racine, Wisconsin / USA; www.scjohnson.com) severed ties with the association (see Plasteurope.com of 14.11.2019). The Dow spokesperson did not indicate whether the association’s policies prompted the company to let its membership lapse.

“Dow did not renew its formal membership with the Plastics Industry Association this year as we seek to focus our time and investments with a variety of other plastics industry supply chain relationships. We will continue to collaborate with the organisation and its members on certain initiatives, and, as we do with all memberships, will reevaluate our various memberships annually,” the spokesperson told Plasteurope.com in an email correspondence.

A statement from Tony Radoszewski, president and CEO of Plastics, said “Dow has been a valued member of the Plastics family and we look forward to renewing our partnership as we have in the past. In the coming months there will be many opportunities to work together, to address pandemic relief and recovery, develop recycling solutions and promote our innovative industry.” The association represents nearly one million workers in a US industry valued at USD 451 bn.