DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

DuPont de Nemours, Inc. is a global science and innovation company with a history dating to the early 19th century. Originally founded as a gunpowder manufacturer, it evolved into one of the world's most influential chemical companies, pioneering numerous transformative materials. Today, it operates through segments focused on electronics, water treatment, industrial technology, and sustainable solutions.

History

The company was founded in 1802 by Éleuthère Irénée du Pont, a chemist and student of Antoine Lavoisier, after he identified a need for reliable gunpowder in the United States. Its original mills on the Brandywine Creek near Wilmington, Delaware supplied the U.S. military during the War of 1812 and the American Civil War. In the 20th century, it shifted from explosives to chemicals, establishing the Haskell Laboratory in 1935 as one of the first industrial toxicology labs. Major milestones include the invention of nylon by Wallace Carothers in 1935, the development of Teflon in 1938, and the creation of Kevlar in 1965. The company underwent significant restructuring in the 21st century, including the 2015 merger with Dow Chemical Company to form DowDuPont, which subsequently spun off into three separate entities in 2019, with the current company retaining the DuPont name and a portfolio of specialty products.

Products and operations

The company's operations are organized into key segments: Water & Protection, Electronics & Industrial, and Mobility & Materials. Its extensive product portfolio includes high-performance polymers like Kevlar and Nomex for ballistic protection and firefighting gear, Tyvek for construction and hazardous materials suits, and a range of semiconductor materials and flexible circuits for the electronics industry. In agriculture, though many assets were spun off to Corteva, it remains active through pioneer seed treatments and crop protection. Other significant products encompass solar panel materials, water filtration membranes, and advanced adhesives for the automotive industry. Major manufacturing and research and development facilities are located globally, including significant sites in the United States, Switzerland, China, and Japan.

Corporate affairs

The company is incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. Its stock is a component of the S&P 500 and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker NYSE:DD. Key leadership has included figures like Edward D. Breen, who served as CEO and later Executive Chairman, and current CEO Lori D. Koch. Its corporate structure is the result of the strategic spin-offs from DowDuPont, which also created the independent companies Corteva and the new Dow Inc.. The company maintains numerous joint ventures and has a long history of acquisitions and divestitures, such as the purchase of Rogers Corporation in 2022 to bolster its electronics materials business.

Environmental and legal issues

The company has faced significant environmental and legal challenges related to its historical operations. It was a key manufacturer of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including PFOA used in Teflon, which led to widespread water pollution and numerous class action lawsuits, most notably surrounding its Washington Works plant in West Virginia. Landmark litigation includes the 2017 multidistrict litigation settlement in Ohio and a major 2021 case in Vermont. It has also been involved in cases concerning asbestos liability from its acquisition of Hercules Inc. and environmental remediation at former sites like the Hagley Museum and Library. These issues have resulted in billions of dollars in legal settlements and shaped modern environmental regulation and corporate accountability.

See also

* Dow Chemical Company * Corteva * Chemours * History of the chemical industry * List of Delaware corporations

Category:Chemical companies of the United States Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Category:Companies based in Wilmington, Delaware Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1802