At imm cologne, Germany, Recticel will present its first fully recyclable polyurethane mattress, Geltex®.
Rexel and Covestro are collaborating on a breakthrough solution to make mattresses more sustainable and support the circular economy. The cooperation between the two parties includes the research and development of raw material technology, and involves the production and scrapping of mattresses. At imm cologne 2020, Schlaraffia®-Traficel Schlafkomfort GmbH will be presenting this innovative and sustainable solution at booths A010 and A011 in hall 5.2.
Boudewijn Dezutter, Commercial Director of Rixel, said: "Polyurethane mattresses have been widely used for a long time and are popular for their comfort. Now it is time to further increase their sustainable value at all stages of their life cycle. "This project is part of Covestro's long-term plan to develop a circular economy. We pay particular attention to the use of sustainably sourced raw materials such as waste, plants and carbon dioxide," said Dr. Berit Stange, Circular Economy Manager at Covestro Polyurethanes. "
Transforming polyurethane into a truly sustainable material
The key to closing the plastic cycle is recycling post-consumer waste. This is especially true for the recycling of thermoset materials such as polyurethane. This mainly refers to mass products such as mattresses. Covestro wants to contribute to this by developing chemical recycling technologies.
The company participates in the European "PUReSmart" research project. "PUReSmart" is led by Rixel, with the participation of 9 companies and academic institutions from 6 countries. The research project aims to develop a complete circular product life cycle and transform polyurethane foam into a truly sustainable material, i.e. recycle used materials such as mattresses and turn them into components for existing or new products production material.
Covestro wants to develop a new solution to enable the complete recycling of polyurethane foam, especially post-consumer mattresses, thereby supporting the development of the flexible foam industry. In this context, the company is investigating the feasibility of a short-term scale-up of this solution from laboratory scale to semi-industrial production, with the aim of making chemical recycling an efficient industrial process. The solution also supports the current PUReSmart project.
Use carbon dioxide as a raw material for the production of soft foam
In addition to implementing the latest post-consumer waste recycling projects, Covestro has been finding ways to use alternative raw materials for many years. The use of carbon dioxide as a raw material for chemical synthesis has always been the focus of its research and development, and has resulted in a breakthrough research result - carbon dioxide polyols. The result of this research by researchers at Covestro and RWTH Aachen University has entered the final round of the prestigious "German President's Award for Science and Technology Innovation".
Rexell was the first company to support the research and development of Covestro's carbon dioxide polyol cardyon® and apply it to the production of soft foam. The reuse of carbon dioxide helps to close the loop on the mattress carbon cycle. In January 2018, Rixel launched a new generation of GELTEX® foam based on CO2 polyols.
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