Covestro has developed a groundbreaking process using CO2 as a raw material for plastics, saving up to one-fifth of crude oil in production, an innovative contribution to resource preservation and recycling management.
Cardyon, the CO2 material has been used to produce soft polyurethane foam for mattresses and upholstered furniture, which is already being marketed, with further development for use in sports.
For the first time, synthetic sports floorings can be produced with carbon dioxide and the world's first subfloor of this kind has now been opened in a hockey facility in western Germany.
Laid on a 99 x 59-meter playing field, the subfield serves to cushion the effect of a new, bright blue artificial turf from Polytan.
"The use of carbon dioxide as a new raw material is a promising approach for making production in the chemical and plastics industries more sustainable," explains Dr. Markus Steilemann, CEO of Covestro.
Covestro
"This way, we use CO2 in a closed-loop process and save oil. On this basis, we want to offer a comprehensive product portfolio for as many areas of application as possible – in line with our vision of making the world a brighter place."
Covestro produces the new CO2-based polyols at its Dormagen site near Cologne.