Sustainable PUR foam materials

PUR foam materials have been part of our core business for 60 years—and they are now also available as a sustainable alternative.

The sustainable alternative has the same properties as conventional PUR foams, namely an open cellular structure and elastic cell walls, which make it very flexible, and is able to recover well , depending on the type. In addition, the open cellular structure ensures high permeability to air and absorption of liquids.

Thanks to these properties, sustainable foam materials are suitable for all areas in which conventional foams have previously been found—they can be used as upholstery materials in the furniture and automotive industries, as packaging, and in industrial and technical applications as seals or for vibration and sound absorption.

Three processes for producing sustainable PUR foams are currently available. For more information, visit our Sustainable materials subpage and our dedicated Sustainable foam materials website.

All of these processes have one thing in common—they reduce the foam’s petroleum content, improving its climate footprint.

Below, we offer an initial glimpse into the potential of sustainable PUR foam materials. While many approaches are still in the development phase, we are already able to provide samples and further information.

Sustainable foams based on renewable resources

• Reduction of petroleum content through use of renewable raw materials
• Use of environmentally friendly and sustainably sourced oils, e. g. castor oil
• No chemical dyes
• Good water absorption and retention capacity as well as outstanding durability and tear resistance

 

Sustainable foams based on chemical recycling

• Reduction of petroleum content through proportionate use of recycled polyols
• Circular economy through recycling of material residues
• Good options for combining with other sustainable materials – e.g. scouring non-wovens
• Good water absorption and retention capacity as well as gentle care properties

 

Sustainable foam materials based on mass-balanced raw materials

  •  Petroleum is partially replaced by mass-balanced waste materials
  • Production does not compete with the foodstuffs or animal feed industries for resources
  • A sustainable proportion of up to 100% can be achieved through the use of mass-balanced chemical building blocks
  • The material has the same technical properties as conventional foam materials