The Vita Group partners with Evonik for pioneering efficient polyurethane mattress recycling process
The Vita Group is delighted to announce that as part of its commitment to advancing a circular economy, Vita has partnered with Evonik to develop an efficient chemical recycling process to convert flexible PU foams to the original polyol raw material.
Evonik is one of the world’s leading
suppliers of essential additives used
in the manufacture of various types
of polyurethane foam. Vita is
currently trialling the recycled
polyols from Evonik’s hydrolysis
process in several flexible foam
applications.
Evonik has used its expertise in
polyurethane (PU) chemistry to
develop an efficient chemical
recycling process for converting
flexible PU foams back to the
original polyol raw material. Evonik’s new hydrolysis recycling process has the potential
to achieve circularity in the flexible PU foam industry.
Highlights:
- The process helps the flexible polyurethane foam industry to increase circularity
- Hydrolysis technology enables used flexible polyurethane foams and mattress
materials to be recycled
- Innovation will significantly reduce the number of mattresses incinerated or going
into landfills each year
Ian Robb CEO of The Vita Group is looking forward to working closely together with
Evonik.
As the next phase of the development, Evonik will scale-up trials of its new process,
which has been further strengthened by its partnership with The Vita Group, a leading
provider of value-added and differentiated flexible PU foam products. The Vita Group
has trialled the recycled polyols from Evonik’s hydrolysis process in several of its flexible
foam applications.
According to the latest report from EUROPUR (European association of flexible
polyurethane foam blocks manufacturers), some 40 million mattresses are discarded
each year in Europe alone, with the majority ending up as landfills creating the
equivalent of 600 kilotons of waste: including more than 300 kilotons of PU foam. With
the potential to recycle the main component materials used in flexible PU foams and
PU foam-based mattresses, Evonik’s process offers significantly higher use levels of the
recycled polyol compared with existing commercialized technologies.
Evonik’s solution will contribute to the global flexible PU industry’s sustainability
expectations of reducing waste and increasing the use of renewable raw materials in
the production of its products. This enables Evonik to expand its position as a leading
solutions provider for the PU industry and supports the entire Evonik Group’s objectives
of establishing a fully functioning circular economy.
“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 Vita Group is renowned for our long history of innovation in sustainability and
investing in circular economy products. We recycle and rebond over 30,000 tons of trim
each year, as part of our dynamic sustainability agenda,” said Ian W. Robb, Group
CEO for The Vita Group. “Sustainability and innovation are central principles of every
aspect of our business. We see it as our responsibility to be at the vanguard of the
development of eco-friendly technology within our industry. This hugely exciting
partnership represents a key milestone on our journey to achieving the circular
economy we are all striving for, and we look forward to working closely together with
Evonik.”
For more information, please visit: https://www.thevitagroup.com