Dow Inc.
DOW
Materials
4
exclusion reasons
3 themes
Dow Inc. is screened out under 4 exclusion reasons spanning 3 issue categories.
This page is part of our public exclusion list — a transparency tool that shows which companies we screen out and why. It is not investment advice, and it is not an accusation. It is a statement of values.
Dow Inc. discloses spending millions annually on lobbying expenses and political contributions. Its influence extends through memberships in industry associations like the American Chemistry Council, which actively opposes stricter chemical safety rules and climate legislation.
Dow has been a lead opponent of the EPA's efforts to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of "forever chemicals" for which it is a major manufacturer. The company lobbied extensively against the designation of PFAS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, a classification that would increase cleanup liability and regulatory oversight for producers.
DOJ/EPA/FWS — Dow Inc. (DOW); Tittabawassee River Superfund site; legacy dioxin contamination from Midland, MI manufacturing operations flowing into Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron; EPA Administrative Order on Consent for site investigation and remediation; NRDA settlement 2019, $54.2M in past administrative costs applied 2023; floodplain and river sediments contaminated across 50+ miles downstream
Polymer/resin producer: Dow Inc. is among the top 5 global virgin plastic producers. Science Advances (Cowger 2024): strong causal relationship between annual plastic production and branded plastic pollution — top 5 producers account for ~65% of virgin plastic. As You Sow 2024 Plastic Promises Scorecard: D- grade, among worst performers in chemicals industry. DOW already excluded for animal_exploitation; this adds upstream plastic production accountability.
Dow Inc. is a global materials science company whose product portfolio includes industrial chemicals, agricultural products, and materials for consumer goods. Regulatory authorities in multiple jurisdictions require animal testing for the safety assessment of certain chemical substances, and Dow conducts or commissions such testing as part of its product development and compliance activities. The company states that all animal studies are conducted in compliance with animal welfare regulations and that testing is undertaken when required by authorities.
In 2019, The Humane Society of the United States published an undercover investigation of a Michigan laboratory conducting animal tests for Dow Chemical. The company responded to the investigation, stating, "Animal testing is not something Dow undertakes lightly, but neither is it something the Company can discontinue when it is required by regulatory authorities." This confirms Dow's ongoing engagement in animal testing for regulatory compliance. The company is listed by Cruelty Free Investors as having involvement in animal testing for chemical and household products.
Research Sources
10 organizations
Related Exclusions
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Companies appear on our exclusion list based on our investment judgment — not because they've done anything illegal. This is a difference of values and opinion, not an accusation of wrongdoing. Exclusion does not constitute a recommendation against investing in any company, and absence from the list does not constitute a recommendation to invest.
This information is provided for educational and transparency purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice. Data is drawn from independent watchdogs, NGOs, government registries, and Ethical Capital's ongoing research — see Research Sources for the full list.
Ethical Capital LLC is a state-registered investment adviser in Utah (CRD #316032). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.