Dow Acquires Polyethylene Recycler Circulus

Dow announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Circulus, a mechanical recycler of polyethylene. This transaction includes two facilities, one in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and another in Arab, Alabama, with a total capacity of 50,000 metric tons per year. Dow expects the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2024, subject to customary regulatory approval.

“This acquisition will allow Dow to combine our company's industry leading materials science technology with Circulus’ film recycling expertise to accelerate progress towards our 2030 Transform the Waste goal,” says Karen S. Carter, president, packaging & specialty plastics at Dow. “It will also expand how we participate in the industry, allowing us to generate value for our customers by directly producing more higher performing circular products that brands and consumers are demanding.”

By combining Dow’s expertise in materials science with Circulus’ mechanical film recycling capability, Dow will look to enhance its offerings in applications, such as collation shrink packaging, stretch film, liners and select food packaging, to a wider range of applications in the industrial and transportation markets.

“The Circulus team is excited to move forward with Dow in advancing a circular economy. Circulus leverages the best technology available to advance the recycling of plastic packaging waste,” says Mike Dulin, Circulus CEO. “Our leadership team brings more than 65 years of combined experience in the recycling and plastics industries, resulting in high quality and sustainably produced resins suitable for upcycled applications."

Dow has previously announced a goal to transform plastic waste and other forms of alternative feedstocks into 3 million metric tons of circular and renewable solutions annually by 2030. To do this, Dow is building industrial ecosystems to collect, reuse or recycle waste, and expand its portfolio to meet rapidly growing demand.