Dow Chemical Company (A): The WRAP Program

The WRAP (Waste Reduction Always Pays) program was implemented by Dow Chemical Company's Louisiana Division starting in 1987. Evolving from an energy-saving contest initiated in 1981 to address oil price shocks and capital scarcity, the program expanded to include yield improvement and waste reduction. The program's creation was influenced by a 1985 congressional survey on emissions, pressure from environmental groups, and the upcoming SARA Title III reporting requirements. Over time, the program's financial criteria shifted from requiring a 100% return on investment (ROI) to a 30% ROI, with a minimum savings threshold of $10,000 per project.

• The WRAP program, which stands for Waste Reduction Always Pays, was designed to highlight the economic benefits of reducing pollution in production processes and has resulted in major cost improvements and reduced pollution levels.
• The program evolved from an energy contest started in 1981 to combat oil price shocks and capital scarcity; while energy-based winning projects decreased from 90 in 1987 to 74 in 1992, WRAP projects increased to 54 by 1992.
• Financial requirements for project qualification were lowered over time, moving from an initial return on investment (ROI) requirement of 100% to 30%, with a minimum required saving of $10,000.
• External pressures contributed to the launch of WRAP in 1986 and its 1987 implementation, including a 1985 congressional committee survey on emissions, pressure from environmental groups, and the development of SARA Title III reporting requirements.

APA

Baker, K. (1994). Dow Chemical Company (A): The WRAP Program. World Resources Institute. https://pdf.wri.org/bell/abstracts/case_1-56973-140-3_abstract_version_a_english.pdf

Chicago

Baker, Kenneth. Dow Chemical Company (A): The WRAP Program. World Resources Institute, 1994. https://pdf.wri.org/bell/abstracts/case_1-56973-140-3_abstract_version_a_english.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Baker |first1=Kenneth |title=Dow Chemical Company (A): The WRAP Program |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=1994 |url=https://pdf.wri.org/bell/abstracts/case_1-56973-140-3_abstract_version_a_english.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{baker1994dow, author = {Baker, Kenneth}, title = {{Dow Chemical Company (A): The WRAP Program}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {1994}, url = {https://pdf.wri.org/bell/abstracts/case_1-56973-140-3_abstract_version_a_english.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }