look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

Researchers Create New Algae-Based Polyurethane Production Method

Whether finding ways to extend the life of polyurethane materials or even make the manufacturing process more efficient, scientists and researchers are continually looking for new ways to make polyurethane more sustainable.

One group of researchers at University of California San Diego may have found a way. The team has created renewable polymers that use algae – a plant-like organism that makes food from sunlight via photosynthesis – as their basis.

If successful, the algae-based polymers will be used to create polyurethane found in a number of everyday household items, like couch cushions, office chairs and more.

The Department of...

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Polyurethane Takes the Fashion World by Storm

From the New York runways to glossy magazine covers, polyurethane-based faux leather and suede are all over the fashion world. They can be found in almost everything from accessories and handbags to clothing items like shoes, jackets and pants.

Material Innovation

As polyurethane-based alternatives to products like suede and leather become ever more innovative, the fashion industry has taken notice. 

More than a Vegan Alternative

Designers are not only offering these products to consumers as a vegan alternative. Many fashionistas are finding that incorporating polyurethane into the designs provides a superior product for the consumer. These items, made from polyurethane...

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Polyurethane Helps Create Resilient, Green Building Products

During the past decade, consumers moved towards eco-friendly products. However, today, it is not enough simply to have environmentally sound offerings, a company’s products have to be resilient as well, meaning they have to be able to stand up to the elements.

Nowhere is this more important than in the construction industry, where designers, policymakers and engineers face the difficult task of rebuilding in areas prone to natural disasters like hurricanes and flooding.

With a renewed focus in the construction industry on creating energy efficient and durable products that are also resilient, there is an interest in products like closed-cell...

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Ten Fascinating Facts About Wind Energy

Covestro Makes Greenhouse Gas a Raw Material for Polyurethane

Polyols are a key component in the creation of the high-grade polyurethane foams that are used in everything from mattresses to running shoes. And fossil fuels are required to make polyols. But polyurethane manufacturer Covestro has uncovered a way to replace one-fifth of this raw material with carbon dioxide (CO2) — a waste gas that has been linked to global warming. By both reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and recycling this waste gas, Covestro is helping to create a more sustainable manufacturing process.

Covestro converts CO2 using a special catalyst that reacts with propylene oxide without the need for...

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Closing the Loop: Polyurethane Recycling for A Sustainable Future

Polyurethanes contribute to sustainable outcomes in many ways. One of the most important ways in which we can protect our natural resources is by reducing waste through reuse and recycling. Many manufacturers today are working toward a closed-loop supply chain, in which new products are made entirely from recycled materials. As a highly recyclable substance, polyurethane is playing a major role in this effort.

Polyurethane is recycled in one of two ways: either mechanically, in which it’s reused in its polymer form, or chemically, in which it’s broken back down into its chemical components. Some common uses for recycled polyurethane...

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