Dow recently announced its plan for a 2022 launch of what the company calls the world’s first commercially available carbon-neutrality program for silicone materials used for structural glazing, insulating glass, and weather sealing. Selected DOWSIL™ materials will include PAS 2060-certified carbon certificates from Dow’s backward-integrated siloxane productions and carbon reduction investments. This carbon-offset program can help decrease the environmental impact of buildings and achieve better green building certification ratings.

“The commercial introduction of our carbon-neutrality program for DOWSIL™ Silicones for building facades represents a true evolution in silicone carbon-neutrality,” said Markus Plettau, Dow’s global segment leader for building facades. “Aligned with the industry efforts towards developing net-carbon-zero buildings to reduce CO₂ emissions, Dow is leading the way in decreasing the embodied carbon present in construction materials.”

Dow reports that carbon-neutral silicones can reduce to net zero the carbon needed to produce the silicone polymers that are the building blocks of its products. According to Plettau, silicone will remain the technology of choice when it comes to building and construction, not only because of its long-term performance and carbon footprint but also because it equips buildings with enhanced energy and greenhouse gas emissions performances.

“The carbon-neutrality program for DOWSIL™ Silicone materials is not only an advantage for architects, builders and building owners, but also a key to achieving significant ongoing carbon reduction through integrated design solutions, allowing these industry professionals to design with more freedom by engineering less impact,” Plettau said.

Learn more at www.dow.com/highperformancebuilding.