Dow teams up with Emirates Green Building Council to drive Middle East sustainable building agenda

Carrying forward its global commitment to sustainability and desire to cultivate sustainable practices in the Middle East, Dow is partnering with local organizations to support the community's social and economic aspirations.

As part of its membership, Dow will collaborate with EmiratesGBC and other Council members on sustainable initiatives while raising awareness of pressing issues and driving the region's green building agenda.

EmiratesGBC will actively support and promote discussions on energy efficiency, water conservation, and related green building policies and regulations. The Council also seeks to devise and implement green building schemes, create technical guidelines to 'green' existing buildings, and offer a comprehensive education and events programme.

As a leading chemistry solutions provider that has established a longstanding relationship with the Middle East, Dow will bring in its significant expertise to play a valued role in these discussions and schemes, through its market knowledge and advanced innovation capabilities in this space.

Dow will appoint sustainable construction specialist Brown Joseph, Technical Development Manager, Dow Construction Chemicals, IMEA, as its official representative on the Council. Additionally, the Company also sponsored EmiratesGBC's networking event on October 2, 2012. The event focused on Cool Reflective Roof Coatings 'CRRC' and featured a lecture by Dr. Joe Rokowski, Elastomeric Roof Coatings Group Leader in Research & Development, Dow Construction Chemicals, North America.

According to EmiratesGBC Chairman Adnan Sharafi, said, "EmiratesGBC strives to engage industry partnerships across the entire building supply chain. We are delighted to welcome our newest member, Dow, an organization taking strong measures to address sustainable development through path-breaking initiatives. The participation of industry leaders in the Council will further enable us to provide stronger insights on sustainable built environments to our members as well as to other stakeholders."

Through the power of chemistry and innovation, and with dedicated local manufacturing and R&D, Dow is helping address the greatest needs of people across the UAE and Middle East in the building and construction industry and beyond. By collaborating with the EmiratesGBC to promote a dialogue on sustainability in the region, Dow aims to shine light on the challenges facing the Arab world today and devise new solutions to drive the region forward. As a leader in the chemistry, manufacturing and sustainability arenas, Dow is helping identify ways to further legislate and incentivize sustainable practices across the industry.

"The Middle East is at a pivotal point, seeking to define its sustainability agenda to balance the oil-based economy," said Dr. Ilham Kadri, General Manager, Dow Advanced Materials, Middle East & Africa. "Organizations like the EmiratesGBC are enabling the region to further define its sustainability framework by engaging key stakeholders in the construction industry. At Dow, we place sustainability at the heart of everything we do, and we have been investing in this space for decades, with the first waterborne latex coatings plant dedicated to the building and construction industry ever built in the region. As we continue innovating and developing sustainable solutions to meet the needs of future generations in the UAE, I am confident that this new partnership with the EmiratesGBC will help both raise awareness of sustainability and promote sustainable solutions for the building and construction industry here in the region."

As a leading solutions provider in the building industry, Dow understands the wide range of challenges customers and homeowners face every day, including energy efficiency, moisture management, rising energy costs and environmental responsibility. Dow is committed to using resources more efficiently, providing value to its customers and stakeholders, and delivering solutions for improved building quality - thus enhancing the quality of life of current and future generations.