Dive Brief:

• Dow Chemical Co. is building a manufacturing facility for its Styrofoam Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Insulation in Burley, ID.
• The facility will be operated by Dow Building Solutions and incorporate Dow's polymeric flame retardant technology—trademarked as Dow Bluedge—which is seen as a non-hazardous alternative to traditional material.
• The 60,000-square foot facility will employ 21 full-time employees and is expected to open in early 2018.

Dive Insight:

The Dow Bluedge technology is available to global extruded and expanded polystyrene foam companies through manufacturing and marketing licenses. Traditional flame retardant chemicals are considered toxic and banned in multiple countries. Dow says that products with this technology meet energy efficiency standards and are a more sustainable building alternative.

Dow has also been in the process of developing other advanced packaging alternatives. Last month, the company announced the development of a new polyethylene-based barrier packaging for items such as granola and nuts using the company's RecycleReady technology. The Sustainable Packaging Coalition has approved the material for store drop-off programs and manufacturers are currently testing it. Dow also announced a different type of recyclable polyethylene pouch created for Seventh Generation detergent pods earlier this year.

In April, the company also became a member of the Recycling Partnership.