Dow has announced the launch of its first digital waste management platform in Asia Pacific. Introduced in India, Rethink+ is a unique plastics take-back program that aims to prevent post-consumer plastic waste from going to landfills by digitally connecting waste generators, waste aggregators, waste processors and recyclers.

This new initiative is in collaboration with Recykal, a technology company providing cloud-based solutions for the waste management and recycling industry, and a waste management non-governmental organization (NGO) partner Keshav Sita Memorial Foundation Trust.

Participants in the Rethink+ program list their recyclables Through UZED app.

Through UZED, a consumer app created by Recykal, participants in the Rethink+ program list their recyclables and either schedule a collection or drop off their items at designated collection centers, earning reward points for online vouchers for each completed transaction. The plastic waste collected through the take-back program, Rethink+, is streamlined to different recycling processes such as upcycling and pyrolysis. The app is only available in India currently and can be downloaded via either Google Play or Apple Store for users in India.

Earlier this year, Dow piloted Rethink+ in Pune, a city in the state of Maharashtra, India. The pilot program proved to be a resounding success, with 810 metric tons of plastic waste collected in five months. Rethink+ will continue to facilitate the collection of plastic waste in Pune, while expanding the program to multiple cities across India.

“The results of the pilot program have been outstanding, but we are just getting started. We are thrilled to be able to extend Rethink+ to more cities in India and encourage the public to recycle more through increased awareness, education and dedicated infrastructure,” said Bambang Candra, Asia Pacific commercial vice president of Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics.

Infrastructure for the collection, segregation and recycling of post-consumer plastic waste received through this program were built to ensure that the collected materials are channeled to authorized recyclers, road contractors and waste-to-fuel (pyrolysis) facilities. The waste will then be used as a resource, for example, to implement plastics in roads.

Together with partners in the ecosystem such as recyclers, pyrolysis operators and road contractors, Rethink+ demonstrates how brand owners can meet the Indian government's extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirement transparently by providing complete traceability of plastic waste.

Dow targets to reduce post-consumer plastic waste in going to landfills.

“We are excited to be working with Dow, a leader in plastics technology, to provide a platform for individuals, brand owners, manufacturers, waste collectors and recyclers to collectively manage plastic waste by utilizing their strengths in the recycling journey,” said Abhay Deshpande, Founder, Recykal.

Keshav Sita Memorial Foundation Trust (Keshav Sita Foundation), an NGO based in Pune, has been dedicated to creating awareness about the harmful effects of plastic waste.

Highlighting the importance of waste segregation, Keshav Sita Foundation educates individuals by setting up collection points at residences, schools and retailers as part of the Rethink+ program. Waste collection has continued during the COVID-19, with strict hygiene practices and precaution.

“The Keshav Sita Foundation is no stranger to plastic waste collection, having gone from door to door collecting waste as part of our efforts to educate the community about segregating their waste and explain why this method of 'divide and conquer' is sustainable for our environment,” said Dr. Medha Tadpatrikar, Founder Trustee, Keshav Sita Memorial Foundation Trust.

Dow has announced the launch of its first digital waste management platform in Asia Pacific. Introduced in India, Rethink+ is a unique plastics take-back program that aims to prevent post-consumer plastic waste from going to landfills by digitally connecting waste generators, waste aggregators, waste processors and recyclers.

This new initiative is in collaboration with Recykal, a technology company providing cloud-based solutions for the waste management and recycling industry, and a waste management non-governmental organization (NGO) partner Keshav Sita Memorial Foundation Trust.

Participants in the Rethink+ program list their recyclables Through UZED app.

Through UZED, a consumer app created by Recykal, participants in the Rethink+ program list their recyclables and either schedule a collection or drop off their items at designated collection centers, earning reward points for online vouchers for each completed transaction. The plastic waste collected through the take-back program, Rethink+, is streamlined to different recycling processes such as upcycling and pyrolysis. The app is only available in India currently and can be downloaded via either Google Play or Apple Store for users in India.

Earlier this year, Dow piloted Rethink+ in Pune, a city in the state of Maharashtra, India. The pilot program proved to be a resounding success, with 810 metric tons of plastic waste collected in five months. Rethink+ will continue to facilitate the collection of plastic waste in Pune, while expanding the program to multiple cities across India.

“The results of the pilot program have been outstanding, but we are just getting started. We are thrilled to be able to extend Rethink+ to more cities in India and encourage the public to recycle more through increased awareness, education and dedicated infrastructure,” said Bambang Candra, Asia Pacific commercial vice president of Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics.

Infrastructure for the collection, segregation and recycling of post-consumer plastic waste received through this program were built to ensure that the collected materials are channeled to authorized recyclers, road contractors and waste-to-fuel (pyrolysis) facilities. The waste will then be used as a resource, for example, to implement plastics in roads.

Together with partners in the ecosystem such as recyclers, pyrolysis operators and road contractors, Rethink+ demonstrates how brand owners can meet the Indian government's extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirement transparently by providing complete traceability of plastic waste.

Dow targets to reduce post-consumer plastic waste in going to landfills.

“We are excited to be working with Dow, a leader in plastics technology, to provide a platform for individuals, brand owners, manufacturers, waste collectors and recyclers to collectively manage plastic waste by utilizing their strengths in the recycling journey,” said Abhay Deshpande, Founder, Recykal.

Keshav Sita Memorial Foundation Trust (Keshav Sita Foundation), an NGO based in Pune, has been dedicated to creating awareness about the harmful effects of plastic waste.

Highlighting the importance of waste segregation, Keshav Sita Foundation educates individuals by setting up collection points at residences, schools and retailers as part of the Rethink+ program. Waste collection has continued during the COVID-19, with strict hygiene practices and precaution.

“The Keshav Sita Foundation is no stranger to plastic waste collection, having gone from door to door collecting waste as part of our efforts to educate the community about segregating their waste and explain why this method of 'divide and conquer' is sustainable for our environment,” said Dr. Medha Tadpatrikar, Founder Trustee, Keshav Sita Memorial Foundation Trust.