Covestro & Carlisle Advance Sustainable Construction with Bio-Circular Insulation

Covestro LLC and Carlisle Construction Materials are at the forefront of advancing sustainable construction through the use of bio-attributed materials. Covestro will supply MDI derived from bio-circular raw materials to Carlisle, which will use this MDI to produce polyurethane building insulation. The material, based on ISCC PLUS certified sustainable resources, offers a CO2 reduction potential of 99%1 compared to traditional fossil-based products.

The construction sector, particularly buildings and the built environment, accounts for nearly 40% of energy consumption in the U.S. Recognizing the importance of energy efficiency for a sustainable future, Covestro and Carlisle are joining forces to introduce bio-circular products to the industry.

Covestro’s methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI)1, created from mass-balanced bio-circular raw materials and ISCC PLUS certified, will be provided to Carlisle. This MDI has a product carbon footprint up to 99% lower than fossil-based MDI1, offering a CO2 reduction potential of 2.4 KG per KG of MDI produced2. Carlisle will leverage this to manufacture its high-performance polyiso insulation boards with reduced embodied carbon.

The partnership between Covestro and Carlisle is a continuation of their long-standing collaboration in construction innovation, a relationship that has spanned decades. With rising sustainability targets for the built environment, both companies are committed to developing and introducing the next generation of insulation materials.

“Covestro’s vision to become fully circular requires R&D advancements that directly support the scope 3 goals of our customers, like Carlisle,” stated Hermann-Josef Doerholt, global head of Performance Materials at Covestro. “Covestro has some of the most aggressive sustainability and climate targets in the chemical industry, and the further we progress in developing solutions to achieve them, the more the effects resonate along the supply chain.”

Covestro will provide Carlisle with its Mondur® CQ 489 MS isocyanate. The “Circular Intelligence” (CQ) designation indicates that at least 25 percent of the raw materials in this product are sourced from biomass or recycled plastics.

Carlisle Construction Materials, a global leader in building envelope solutions, is committed to achieving net zero by 2050. The company will produce bio-based rigid foam insulation with 5% bio-circular content for its SynTec, Versico, Hunter Panels, and WeatherBond brands. This new bio-based insulation enhances Carlisle's portfolio of sustainable building products.

“Carlisle Construction Materials has always been at the forefront of developing high-performance construction products that lead the way in sustainability,” said Steve Schwar, President of Carlisle Construction Materials. “With our new bio-based rigid foam insulation, we are demonstrating our unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility while ensuring that our customers have access to the most advanced building materials available. Our partners play a pivotal role in the realization of our bio-based isolation. Together, we're not only pushing the boundaries of material science, but also supporting the construction industry's transition to a more sustainable future,” added Steve.

“At Covestro, we have long understood the unparalleled performance attributes of polyurethane insulation,” noted Julia Rubino, head of sales for Performance Materials at Covestro North America. “The ability to provide an innovative, bio-circular raw material solution to a long-time partner and a leader in the construction industry, like Carlisle, shows that future-focused sustainable solutions are available today.”

Covestro has ISCC PLUS certified facilities in major global markets, including its manufacturing site in Baytown, Texas. In alignment with its vision to become fully circular, Covestro aims to achieve operational climate neutrality (scope 1 and scope 2) by 2035 and scope 3 climate neutrality by 2050. The company already offers hundreds of circular CQ products and is continuously expanding its portfolio.

Source: Covestro AG