Amcor and Dow have entered into a partnership designed to support brands and retailers in accelerating their transition toward lower-carbon packaging solutions across the commercial supply chain.
The joint initiative unites Amcor’s specialized packaging development and manufacturing infrastructure with Dow’s polyethylene product portfolio, materials science research, and carbon footprint tracking capabilities. Together, the organizations intend to facilitate the rollout and scaling of alternative packaging formats that satisfy essential performance, quality, and operational criteria while aiding corporate progress toward Scope 3 emissions targets.
Commercial Practicality and Value Chain Collaboration
Under the framework of the agreement, the participating companies will evaluate potential packaging applications to verify both technical viability and commercial scalability. The operational strategy emphasizes engaging additional segments of the value chain during early development stages, alongside delivering comprehensive greenhouse gas metrics to inform customer procurement and operational choices.
Keith Cleason, president of Dow’s packaging and specialty plastics business, commented on the operational focus of the initiative:
“Together with Amcor, we are testing a new commercial model through market-based mechanisms to reduce adoption risk, create clearer demand signals and help accelerate commercialisation of low-carbon packaging solutions across the value chain. We are making it easier for brands and retailers to evaluate and integrate low-carbon packaging options that support both business growth and sustainability objectives.”
Implementation of the Carbon Footprint Ledger System
The core operating mechanism driving the collaboration is the carbon footprint ledger (CFL) methodology. Developed on established industry conventions for mass balance within greenhouse gas accounting systems, the framework is structured to verify emissions reductions accurately.
Data Assurance and Independent Standards
The carbon footprint ledger delivers independently assured product-level emissions data benchmarked against globally recognized reporting protocols, including ISO 14067 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Standard. By applying these standards in combination with physical manufacturing expertise, the partners aim to provide commercial clients with transparent environmental impact metrics, enabling brands to assess and contrast lower-carbon packaging against conventional formats.
David Clark, chief sustainability officer at Amcor, highlighted the operational implementation for consumer brands:
“Bringing low-carbon polyethylene to market in packaging that meets the same technical and design standards is one of the simplest ways to help shrink a product’s carbon footprint. Because it’s truly a drop-in solution for brands, we see this collaboration as an exciting opportunity for them to translate climate commitments into action.”