New partnership will focus on creating new markets for end-of-life mattresses HORGEN, Switzerland and PARIS, France, July 22, 2020 - Dow (NYSE: Dow) and Eco-mobilier, the French eco-organization in charge of recycling used furniture and mattresses, today jointly announce a new collaboration regarding the collection and supply of post-consumer polyurethane foam for the RENUVA ™ mattress recycling program.
As part of this innovative partnership, Eco-mobilier will mobilize its used mattress collection and dismantling network to supply post-consumer polyurethane foam to Orrion Chemicals Orgaform's recently announced chemical recycling unit in Semoy, France.
In Semoy, Dow's RENUVA™ mattress recycling program will use chemical recycling to convert these foams into valuable new raw materials for polyurethane (polyols) production. Dow's goal is to work toward creating and validating a market for these recycled polyols.
" At Dow, we are committed to solving the challenge of end-of-life mattresses. We have been actively studying centrally organized collection, dismantling and recycling systems for end-of-life waste and materials for some time. France has led the way in creating an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, and Eco-mobilier is now leading the way in collecting used mattresses and furniture," says Neil Carr, President of Dow Europe, Middle East, Africa and India. "This collaboration attests to the ongoing construction of an entirely new ecosystem, with a view to giving birth to a circular economy for polyurethanes."
Eco-mobilier has been collecting used mattresses since 2013. By 2019, these volumes had already reached 66,000 tonnes, and the actions undertaken by Eco-mobilier have led to a significant increase in their recycling. However, markets for the materials derived from them are still limited.
"Eco-mobilier and its manufacturer and distributor shareholders are proud to support, here in France, this first industrial plant dedicated to the chemical recycling of PU foams. Thanks to this pioneering project with Dow, we've come full circle and opened up a new era in mattress recycling. It fits perfectly with our strategy of setting up industrial tools for mattress recycling in France," added Dominique Mignon, President of Eco mobilier.
This announcement is the latest step in the RENUVA™ mattress recycling program, which aims to recycle up to 200,000 mattresses a year in France and solve the challenge posed by landfill and waste incineration. The first batch of RENUVA™ polyols is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2021. To find out more about Dow's RENUVA™ program, visit www.dow.com/renuva
About Dow Polyurethanes
Dow Polyurethanes develops and supplies a broad portfolio of technologies and customized solutions to customers in a variety of industries, using its StructuralScience, ComfortScience™, MobilityScience™ and InsulationScience categorical brands. Applications range from industrial and infrastructure solutions to energy-efficient insulation materials, solutions improving consumer comfort in flooring, furniture, bedding and footwear, as well as solutions tailored to automotive interiors. The company manufactures and markets leading chemical ingredients and fully formulated polyurethane systems for rigid, semi-rigid and flexible foams, as well as coatings, adhesives, coatings, elastomers and composites. Dow is the world's largest producer of propylene oxide (PO), propylene glycol (PG) and polyether polyol. It is also one of the world's leading producers of high-quality aromatic isocyanates, such as MDI. To meet the specific needs of its customers in their local geographic regions, Dow Polyurethanes operates a global network of production sites and systems houses, as well as innovation and service centers. The company continually takes the initiative to support the industry by providing high-performance products adapted to market needs, and to contribute to a more comfortable, healthy and resilient society. For more information, visit www.dowpolyurethanes.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines one of the broadest technology portfolios with industrial integration, innovation capability and global scale to generate profitable growth and become the world's most innovative, customer-focused, inclusive and sustainable materials science company. Our portfolio of advanced materials, industrial intermediates and plastics offers a range of differentiated, science-based solutions to our customers in high-growth sectors such as packaging, infrastructure and consumer goods. Dow employs around 36,500 people at 109 sites in 31 countries worldwide. In 2019, Dow achieved pro forma sales of around $43 billion. References to Dow or the company are to Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, visit our website www.dow.com or follow us on Twitter @DowNewsroom.