Dow Hosts Overview of Industry Progress

Interactive virtual experiences are keeping both suppliers and marketers connected to learn more about household and personal care developments. For example, Dow hosted a virtual event today, Pioneering a New Age of Beauty, exclusively online for industry insiders.

Attendees of the webcast gained insight from Dow’s Global Strategy Director & Corporate Chief Economist Rafael Cayuela about global transformations during 2020. Dow scientific experts and leaders from around the globe were also available in a “virtual booth” to answer questions.

Cayuela focused on “Chemistry at the heart of human progress,” sharing insights about global transformations and their impacts beyond the pandemic.

“We are in historical times. Besides being within a once in a century pandemic, climate change is also a factor. It is the fourth industrial revolution with issues that are sustainable, digital and social,” he said.

Right now, it’s going to be a long way to recovery. But Cayuela is hopeful that the chemical industry itself is at the core of global advancement as it sparks ideas to drive innovation.

“The second and third industrial revolution is all about fossil fuel, lineal and analog,” he said regarding the 1800s into the early 2000s. Dow itself has exponentially grown from 1970-2010, Cayuela added.

The 4^th industrial revolution will feature everything from a circular economy to renewable carbon to biomimicry, he noted. Sustainability is key to societal transformation, especially with the development of sustainable chemicals. Societal transformation, such as 50% of the population being middle class by 2030, is also in the forecast to changes in what consumers are seeking in their personal care.

 “The pandemic has reminded us that nature is more powerful than humans so we need to improve global biodiversity and emissions,” said Cayuela. “I am confident that chemistry is at the core of change.”

Dow employs more than 36,000 people and has manufacturing and R&D presence around the globe. Dow Home and Personal Care offers unique, innovative ingredients that customers around the world to create products with exceptional performance and exciting benefits.