The Vita Group Partners with Evonik for Polyurethane Mattress Recycling Process

The Vita Group has maintained its collaboration with Evonik to create a chemical recycling process that is both efficient and effective in the conversion of flexible PU foams to the original polyol raw material. Evonik is a global leader in the supply of essential additives that are utilised in the production of a variety of polyurethane foams. The recycled polyols from Evonik's hydrolysis process are currently being tested in a variety of flexible foam applications by Vita.

Evonik has leveraged its proficiency in polyurethane (PU) chemistry to create a chemical recycling process that is both efficient and effective in the conversion of flexible PU foams to the original polyol raw material. The flexible PU foam industry has the potential to achieve circularity through Evonik's new hydrolysis recycling process.

The most recent report from EUROPUR, the European association of manufacturers of flexible polyurethane foam blocks, indicates that approximately 40 million mattresses are discarded annually in Europe. The majority of these mattresses are disposed of in landfills, resulting in the generation of 600 kilotons of waste, which includes over 300 kilotons of polyurethane foam. Evonik's process has the potential to significantly increase the use of recycled polyol compared to existing commercialised technologies, as it can recycle the primary component materials used in flexible PU foams and PU foam-based mattresses.

“It’s only by recycling products back to their raw materials and reusing them over and over again that we will enable a fully circular economy,” said Ralph Marquardt, Head of Evonik’s polyurethane additives business. “Our new hydrolysis process delivers recyclates of a quality and performance similar to that of virgin raw materials. Thus, innovative foam producers like our partner The Vita Group can meet their own sustainability targets, while continuing to deliver high-quality PU products.” 

The global flexible PU industry's sustainability expectations will be met by Evonik's solution, which will increase the use of renewable raw materials in the production of its products and reduce waste. This allows Evonik to further solidify its status as a premier solution provider for the polyurethane industry and aligns with the Evonik Group's overarching objectives of establishing a fully operational circular economy.

Source: The Vita Group