Twenty years after the conference was last held in Rio de Janeiro, the 2012 United Nations (U.N.) Conference on Sustainable Development - “Rio+20” -  will convene global leaders to advance sustainable innovation, and foster collaboration between companies, governments, civil society and the U.N. With a commitment to collaboration and solving global sustainability challenges through chemistry as part of the Company’s 2015 Sustainability Goals, Dow is a key partner supporting the U.N.’s goals of global sustainable progress. At Rio+20, Dow will further these objectives through commitments and dialogues around policy, green chemistry and the economic value of ecosystem services.

“As the world reflects on 20 years of progress and addresses the need to build a more sustainable future, the role of business is vital,” said Neil Hawkins, Dow’s vice president of sustainability and environment, health & safety (EH&S). “With more than 95 percent of all goods sold enabled by chemistry, Dow people and technology will contribute to global progress with our steadfast commitment to innovation and collaboration that delivers solutions to the world’s major challenges.”

At Rio+20, Dow is pledging a U.N. Commitment to make further progress on its breakthrough collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, measuring the business value of ecosystems services by:

• establishing a second pilot site in Santa Vitória, Brazil;
• analyzing impacts and dependencies on ecosystem services in the region—specifically related to crop production, freshwater, forest habitat, erosion control and nutrient retention; and
• publishing a second annual Progress Report.

Hawkins, Pedro Suarez, President of Dow Latin America, and other Dow leaders are collaborating with customers and participating in sessions on natural capital, innovation, green chemistry, and chemicals policy to help advance sustainable development.

Dow’s corporate director of product responsibility, Greg Bond, will participate in several events throughout Rio+20, contributing expertise in chemicals management policy and helping advance chemical safety around the world.

For more information on Rio+20, visit www.uncsd2012.org. To learn more about Dow’s commitment to sustainability, visit www.dow.com/sustainability.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

OLD - Dow Chemical Company

OLD - Dow Chemical Company

With annual sales of $54 billion and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.