Dow recently announced it will expand its Protect the Climate targets by setting distinct milestones for climate change mitigation that focus on water and nature conservation. As a science-based company, Dow reports that that it understands the impact that rapidly changing climate and socio-economic conditions are having on water and nature.
These targets include:
- By 2030, Dow will implement a robust land-management strategy, its top 20 water-dependent sites will have water stewardship plans, and 10 of those sites will be water-resilient;
- By 2035, all Dow sites will have water stewardship plans; and
- By 2050, Dow will partner to conserve 50,000 acres of habitat and its top 20 water-dependent sites will be water-resilient.
The company reports that the new Water & Nature strategy is designed to support resiliency for its sites and surrounding natural ecosystems to be able to withstand unpredictable conditions, such as drought and flooding.
Dow stated that it is positioned to apply its materials science expertise and advanced engineering capabilities for the benefit of water resiliency and healthy ecosystems. Its new strategy focuses on three main areas:
- Sustainably managing site footprint, supporting business continuity through world-class water stewardship and positively impacting habitat through smart land management;
- Engaging the entire supply chain, working to reduce the demand and impact on water and nature ecosystems; and
- Innovating with customers and value chain partners, deploying research and development (R&D) for products and solutions that are better for water and nature.
"To deliver on Dow's purpose — a sustainable future for all — we must maintain a balanced relationship with water and nature," said Jim Fitterling, Dow's chair and chief executive officer. "Dow's holistic, next-generation Water & Nature strategy is designed to support water resilience for our sites and their surrounding communities, conserve habitat in key ecosystems, and positively impact nature across the supply chain as we continue to drive business growth."
Dow primarily uses water to manage cooling processes, with more than 95% of water withdrawn returned to the environment. Water and nature are also connected to Dow's Decarbonize & Grow strategy, as some decarbonization technologies and bio-based resources present emerging dependencies on natural ecosystems.
To advance water resilience and healthy ecosystems, Dow will work together with water basin stakeholders and conservation organizations to support consistent quality and access, adequate supply, and infrastructure that is prepared for fluctuating conditions. The new strategy reflects the complexity of water and nature stewardship by considering Dow's operations and its supply chain, as well as water basin and land dynamics.
"This new Water & Nature strategy builds upon decades of work at Dow to conserve healthy ecosystems. Considering the rapidly changing conditions, we conducted a detailed evaluation of our strategies and commitments and determined we needed to take this next step on our journey," said Andre Argenton, Dow's chief sustainability officer and vice president of Environment, Health & Safety. "For the sake of our planet, we want to be a pacesetter for our industry in decarbonization, water stewardship and healthy ecosystems."
Dow reports that the company is committed to reporting progress on these targets with voluntary disclosures under the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) beginning with the 2025 reporting year. The company will also continue to report withdrawal, consumption and intensity as part of its annual INtersections progress report.
Learn more about Dow at www.dow.com.
