Dow Inc.

Corporate brand

Dow Inc. is a United States-based global materials science company serving packaging, infrastructure, mobility, consumer care and industrial markets.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

Dow Inc. is a global materials science company headquartered in Midland, Michigan. The modern Dow Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and became an independent publicly traded company in April 2019 through the separation of DowDuPont's materials science business. It operates through the legacy Dow Chemical organization and its subsidiaries, but is distinct from the historical Dow Chemical Company that was founded in 1897 by Herbert H. Dow. The company develops, manufactures and sells chemicals, plastics, coatings, silicones, polyurethane materials, industrial intermediates and related technologies. Its products are generally business-to-business materials rather than consumer-branded finished goods. They are incorporated into flexible and rigid packaging, food and specialty packaging, building materials, insulation, adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, household and personal-care products, medical and pharmaceutical packaging, electronics, appliances, footwear, transportation equipment and agricultural films. Dow's principal operating structure has centered on three broad segments: Packaging & Specialty Plastics; Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure; and Performance Materials & Coatings. Its portfolio includes polyethylene and other polymer resins, ethylene oxide and derivatives, polyurethanes, silicones, acrylic and specialty coatings materials, elastomers, solvents and performance additives. The company sells both commodity-scale materials and more specialized formulations, with an emphasis on technical collaboration, application development and supply-chain reliability. A defining strategic turning point was the 2017 merger of Dow Chemical and DuPont, followed by a planned division of the combined DowDuPont group into three independent companies. Dow Inc. represented the materials science business, while Corteva represented agriculture and DuPont retained specialty products. The separation was designed to create more focused businesses and was completed in 2019. Since then, Dow has sought to improve the mix of its portfolio by emphasizing customer-driven applications, infrastructure, packaging, mobility and sustainability-related materials while retaining large-scale chemical production capabilities. Sustainability is a major part of Dow's public positioning. The company promotes lower-carbon materials, circular plastics, recycling technologies, renewable or alternative feedstocks, energy efficiency and product designs intended to reduce material use or improve durability. Its stated Transform the Waste ambitions include increasing the availability of recycled and circular materials. In 2024 Dow agreed to acquire Circulus, a North American polyethylene recycler, to add post-consumer resin capacity and strengthen its mechanical-recycling offering. Dow has also promoted materials science for electric mobility through its MobilityScience platform and partnerships in racing and automotive innovation. Dow serves customers across multiple regions, with manufacturing, research, sales and distribution activities in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Its scale derives from integrated chemical production and global customer relationships, while its competitive proposition combines materials science, process technology, application expertise and the ability to supply high volumes. The company remains an active, publicly traded chemicals producer under the Dow name.

History

The roots of Dow's business lie in The Dow Chemical Company, established in Midland, Michigan, in 1897 by Herbert H. Dow. The original company grew from chemical-process innovations into a diversified producer of industrial chemicals, plastics and performance materials. Over the twentieth century it expanded its manufacturing base, research capabilities and international operations, becoming one of the world's largest chemical companies. The historical Dow business was shaped by vertical integration, large-scale production and continuing diversification into materials used by industrial and consumer-product manufacturers. Dow expanded through organic research and acquisitions. Important later transactions included the 1999 acquisition of Union Carbide, which added major businesses and technologies but also brought scrutiny concerning inherited liabilities associated with Union Carbide's historical operations. In 2008 Dow agreed to acquire Rohm and Haas, a transaction intended to strengthen higher-value specialty chemicals, coatings and related materials. The deal was completed after financing and market conditions created substantial execution challenges. Dow also divested various consumer businesses over time, including the DowBrands division, whose household products were sold to S. C. Johnson & Son in the late 1990s. In 2017 Dow and DuPont completed a merger that created DowDuPont. The combination was not intended to remain permanent. Management and boards planned to separate the group into three focused, publicly traded companies: an agriculture company, a specialty-products company and a materials science company. The materials science business was placed into Dow Inc., a newly formed Delaware holding company. DowDuPont's board approved the separation in March 2019, and Dow began trading as an independent public company in April 2019. This transaction transformed the legal and strategic identity of the Dow brand: the operating heritage remained connected to Dow Chemical, but the listed parent became Dow Inc. As an independent company, Dow organized its activities around packaging and specialty plastics, industrial intermediates and infrastructure, and performance materials and coatings. Its markets include packaging, construction, transportation and mobility, consumer care, electronics, appliances, healthcare, agriculture and industrial manufacturing. The company combines basic chemical production with application-specific materials, allowing it to serve both large-volume resin markets and customers requiring specialized performance characteristics. During the 2020s Dow increasingly emphasized portfolio quality, customer-oriented innovation and sustainability. Its public goals have included reducing waste, increasing circular and recycled materials, lowering emissions and developing products that help customers improve resource efficiency. The company has used partnerships, product development and acquisitions to expand these capabilities. In 2024 it agreed to acquire Circulus, a North American recycler of polyethylene waste into post-consumer resin, adding recycling capacity and supporting its Transform the Waste objectives. In 2025 it announced an agreement to sell its 50% interest in DowAksa, reflecting continuing portfolio management and a focus on businesses aligned with its priorities. Leadership during the independent-company period included Jim Fitterling, a long-serving Dow executive who became Dow Inc.'s chief executive at the time of the separation and later executive chairman. The company announced a succession plan under which Karen S. Carter, previously chief operating officer and a leader of the Packaging & Specialty Plastics business, would become chief executive on July 1, 2026, with Fitterling moving to an executive-chair role. Dow therefore remains an active global materials company, combining the heritage of a nineteenth-century chemical enterprise with the legal structure and strategic focus created by the DowDuPont separation.

2026
Planned chief executive succession
[9]Planned chief executive successionblackbusiness.com
Dow announced that Karen S. Carter would become chief executive on July 1, 2026, while Jim Fitterling would transition to executive chairman.
2025
DowAksa stake sale announced
[5]DowAksa stake sale announcementinvestors.dow.com
Dow announced an agreement to sell its 50% interest in the DowAksa carbon-fiber joint venture to its partner, Aksa Akrilik.
2024
Circulus acquisition announced
[4]Dow acquisition of Circulusinvestors.dow.com
Dow agreed to acquire a North American polyethylene recycler to add approximately 50,000 metric tons of annual recycled-material capacity.
2019
Dow Inc. became an independent public company
[2]DowDuPont separation information statementsec.gov
DowDuPont distributed Dow Inc. shares to its eligible stockholders, separating the materials science business as a standalone listed company.
2017
Dow and DuPont merger completed
[8]Dow and DuPont merger completedmckinsey.com
The two chemical groups combined as DowDuPont in preparation for a subsequent separation into three independent companies.
2008
Rohm and Haas acquisition agreed
[3]Dow Chemical Company historyen.wikipedia.org
Dow agreed to acquire Rohm and Haas to increase its exposure to specialty chemicals, coatings and higher-value materials.
1999
Union Carbide acquisition agreed
[3]Dow Chemical Company historyen.wikipedia.org
Dow agreed to acquire Union Carbide, substantially expanding its scale and portfolio while also inheriting historical liabilities associated with the acquired company.
1897
The Dow Chemical Company founded
[3]Dow Chemical Company historyen.wikipedia.org
Herbert H. Dow established the company in Midland, Michigan, creating the historical corporate foundation of the Dow business.

Products and positioning

A global materials science and chemical manufacturing company focused on high-volume and specialty materials for packaging, infrastructure, mobility, consumer care and industrial applications, with sustainability and circularity as strategic themes.

Packaging and specialty plastics
Polyethylene and polymer resins
Dow produces polyethylene and related polymer materials used in flexible packaging, rigid containers, agricultural films, healthcare packaging, consumer products and industrial components. These materials are supplied in grades engineered for properties such as toughness, sealability, stiffness, barrier performance, processability and recyclability.
Performance materials
Silicones
Dow's silicone materials serve construction, transportation, electronics, healthcare, personal care, appliances and industrial applications. Products include silicone elastomers, sealants, fluids and specialty formulations designed to provide durability, temperature resistance, flexibility, release properties or electrical performance.
Industrial intermediates and infrastructure
Polyurethanes and industrial intermediates
Dow supplies polyurethane systems and chemical intermediates used in insulation, refrigeration, footwear, furniture, automotive components, coatings, adhesives and other engineered applications. The portfolio links large-scale chemical feedstocks with application technologies for energy efficiency, comfort and structural performance.
Performance materials and coatings
Coatings, adhesives and sealant materials
Dow provides resins, binders, additives and formulation technologies for architectural, industrial, packaging, wood, transportation and specialty coatings, as well as adhesives and sealants. These materials help customers achieve adhesion, appearance, protection, flexibility, chemical resistance and weatherability.
Circular materials · 2024
Recycled and circular polymer materials
Dow is expanding offerings that incorporate recycled or circular feedstocks. The Circulus transaction was intended to increase access to post-consumer polyethylene resin and strengthen the company's ability to supply recycled materials for packaging and other applications.

Marketing campaigns

2023Dow MobilityScience and Jaguar TCS Racing
Thailand · International
Dow promoted its MobilityScience materials platform through communications associated with Jaguar TCS Racing, linking materials innovation with electric mobility and lower-carbon transportation.
Outcome. The partnership provided a visible platform for demonstrating materials science in electric-vehicle and motorsport applications.
Source
2022Expanded Sustainability Targets
Global
Dow communicated expanded sustainability ambitions focused on reducing waste, emissions and resource use while developing materials that support a more circular economy.
Outcome. The campaign reinforced sustainability and circularity as central themes in Dow's corporate and product communications.
Source

Brand decisions

2025
Sell Dow's interest in DowAksaM&A
Background
Dow reviewed its portfolio and agreed to exit its 50% interest in the carbon-fiber joint venture.
Action taken
Dow agreed to sell its stake to Aksa Akrilik, the other joint-venture partner.
Aftermath
The announced transaction would remove Dow from the joint venture and further concentrate its portfolio on its core materials businesses.
Expected proceeds. $125 million (2025 announcement; expected transaction proceeds)
Source
2024
Acquire CirculusM&A
Background
Dow sought to expand its mechanical recycling capabilities and support its 2030 waste-transformation objectives.
Action taken
Dow signed an agreement to acquire Circulus and its two U.S. polyethylene-recycling facilities.
Aftermath
The transaction was expected to add approximately 50,000 metric tons of recycled-material capacity annually, subject to customary approvals.
Source
2019
Separate the Dow materials science business from DowDuPontStrategy
Background
DowDuPont was created as a combination of Dow and DuPont but was designed to be divided into three focused public companies.
Action taken
DowDuPont distributed Dow Inc. shares to eligible stockholders and established Dow as the standalone materials science company.
Aftermath
The separation created an independent Dow focused on packaging, infrastructure, mobility, consumer care and related materials markets.
Source

Recent events

Unconfirmed
Dow launches VOLTRICELL battery cell materials platform[10]陶氏推出VOLTRICELL电池电芯材料平台webwire.com
Dow announced the addition of VOLTRICELL to its existing portfolio of battery solutions at The Battery Show North America. VOLTRICELL is a suite of materials designed to optimize battery manufacturing processes and support current battery technologies as well as emerging sodium-ion, silicon-anode and solid-state technologies, and is Dow's first material platform designed specifically for supporting electrochemistry inside the cell.
2021.09.14
Reported2021.09.14
Crocs announces introduction of bio-based Croslite material[11]Crocs宣布引入生物基Croslite材料prnewswire.com
Crocs announced that it had begun introducing a new bio-based Croslite material into its footwear lines. The material was planned to appear in shoes on shelves around the world beginning in early 2022.
2021.08.21
Reported2021.08.26
Huaren Huitong and Dow announce automotive silicone leather application[12]华人运通与陶氏宣布有机硅皮革应用于汽车内饰workercn.cn
Huaren Huitong and Dow announced that their LUXSENSE silicone leather, described as the first such material approved for automotive interiors globally, had entered mass production and would first be used in the HiPhi X. HiPhi Auto planned to offer light-colored LUXSENSE interior upholstery options in September.
Unconfirmed
INDEVCO Plastics announces recycled-content collation shrink film[13]INDEVCO Plastics宣布推出含再生材料的收缩膜foodonline.com
INDEVCO Plastics announced a recyclable collation shrink film made with 50% post-consumer recycled resin, co-developed with Dow for food and beverage manufacturers.
2020.05.18
Reported2020.05.18
Dow and partners collaborate on medical isolation gowns[14]陶氏与合作伙伴合作开发医用隔离衣chemengonline.com
Dow collaborated with nine partners to develop and donate 100,000 medical isolation gowns for frontline workers in Texas, Louisiana and Mexico.
2020.05.07
Reported2020.05.07
Dow launches DOWSIL TC-4040 thermal gel for 5G devices[15]陶氏推出面向5G设备的陶熙TC-4040导热凝胶prnasia.com
Dow launched DOWSIL TC-4040, a dispensable thermal interface gel designed for heat transfer, stress relief and vibration damping in 5G devices. The product is available for purchase by customers in Greater China and through Dow's global distribution network.
2020.04.01
Reported2020.04.01
Dow announces expanded hand sanitizer production[16]陶氏宣布扩大洗手液生产finance.yahoo.com
Dow announced that production sites in Michigan, West Virginia, Belgium and Brazil would join its Stade, Germany site in producing hand sanitizers.
Unconfirmed
Reported2020.03.24
Dow signs cooperation memorandum with Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone[17]陶氏公司与张家港保税区签署合作备忘录finance.sina.com.cn
Dow signed a cooperation memorandum with Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone covering planned investment and expansion at Dow’s Zhangjiagang base.
2020.03.23
Reported2020.03.23
Dow begins hand-sanitizer production and repurposes a U.S. facility[18]陶氏开始生产洗手液并改造美国工厂finanznachrichten.de
Dow announced that it had begun producing hand sanitizer at its manufacturing site in Stade, Germany, and was repurposing an existing U.S. facility to produce hand sanitizer.
2020.03.23
Reported2020.03.23
Dow commits $3 million to COVID-19 relief efforts[18]陶氏开始生产洗手液并改造美国工厂finanznachrichten.de
Dow announced a $3 million commitment to fund COVID-19 relief efforts, including support for global relief organizations and nonprofits in communities where it operates.

Sources18 sources

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