Covestro introduces more sustainable polyether polyols based on bio-circular raw materials[1]

Now also offers polyether polyols using bio-circular¹ feedstock. Together with renewable¹ toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and climate-neutral[2] methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), the company can supply both key raw material components for the production of polyurethane (PU) foams based on alternative raw materials. Like TDI and MDI, the polyols are produced with the help of the mass balance approach using renewable precursors – from biowaste and residual materials – which are allocated to the products by calculation.

PU rigid foams with MDI provide very efficient thermal insulation in buildings and refrigeration equipment. The soft foams using TDI provide a lot of comfort in mattresses and upholstered furniture, as well as in car seats and shoes. And with these polyols, Covestro is now able to offer selective prepolymers for various adhesive applications. The introduced mass balance approach enables the gradual substitution of fossil-based raw materials by bio-circular alternatives, which further improves the sustainability in these applications.

“With the introduction of both main components for polyurethanes based on alternative raw materials, we have reached another important milestone on the road to climate neutrality,” says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer of Covestro. “We can now help customers in a variety of industries meet their climate goals and drive the transition to a circular economy. At the same time, we are reducing the CO₂ footprint in various value chains.”

Customers can use the more sustainable polyether polyols and isocyanates as a drop-in solution, meaning the raw materials can be quickly and easily integrated into existing production processes without the need for technical modifications. The products offer the same good quality as their fossil-based counterparts and meet the demands of various industries looking for alternative raw materials. They can be easily distinguished from their fossil counterparts through the CQ suffix in the product name. CQ stands for Circular Intelligence and highlights Covestro´s products and initiatives around circularity.