Globally active foam products manufacturer Recticel (Brussels / Belgium; www.recticel.com) will become the first industrial user of the new CO₂-based polyol developed by engineering plastics manufacturer Covestro (Leverkusen / Germany; www.covestro.com) and marketed under the brand name “cardyon”. The company will implement the polyol technology in its production of flexible based foams for furniture and mattresses, starting in this year’s fourth quarter and expand output as more of the new polyol grade, containing about 20% CO₂ by weight, becomes available.

Covestro recently dedicated its new EUR 15m “Dream Production” facility for the polyether polycarbonate polyols (PPPs) at Dormagen / Germany. Feedstock is sourced from a neighbouring manufacturing plant – see Plasteurope.com of 21.06.2016.

Recticel has supported the development of the polyol from the beginning and worked with the former Bayer MaterialScience during the extensive application testing phase, said Olivier Chapelle, CEO of the Belgian foam specialist. Jean-Pierre De Kesel, the company’s chief sustainable innovation officer, said carbon footprint analysis has helped the company to prioritise actions, especially in the use of raw materials and at the end-of-life stage of its products. “We are firmly committed to sustainable innovation in the coming years with the help of partners such as Covestro who push existing boundaries,” he added.