Covestro (India) Private Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR–National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), launching an innovative Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project aimed at developing sustainable upcycling solutions for polyurethane materials, addressing the critical limitations of current recycling technologies.
The collaborative project will explore innovative approaches to transform polyurethane waste into valuable chemical building blocks. This research aims to develop commercially viable technologies that could significantly enhance the circularity of polyurethane materials while reducing their environmental impact.
Currently, polyurethane recycling is limited primarily to mechanical methods and a few emerging chemical processes. These existing approaches face substantial limitations, including degradation of material properties, high energy requirements, the potential generation of harmful byproducts, and limited applicability across different polyurethane types. The development of efficient chemical recycling technologies for polyurethanes represents a critical industry need—one that this project aims to address.
Commenting on the launch of the project, Avinash Bagdi, Director & Head of Sales and MD Solutions India & Projects – Tailored Urethanes, said:
"This partnership strengthens our commitment to finding innovative solutions for polyurethane waste and directly supports Covestro's vision of becoming fully circular. By developing effective methods to upcycle polyurethanes, we're taking concrete steps towards creating a more sustainable future in line with our corporate vision of driving the transition to a circular economy."
The project addresses the urgent global challenge of polyurethane waste management. Unlike conventional plastics, polyurethanes present unique recycling difficulties due to their complex chemical structure and cross-linked nature. At present, the polyurethane economy largely follows a linear model, where these specialised materials—widely used in furniture, automotive components, insulation, and countless other applications—are often discarded after use, ultimately accumulating in landfills.
Further commenting on the need for such solutions, Dr Ashish Lele, Director of NCL, said: "CSIR–National Chemical Laboratory is excited to partner with Covestro (India) in this groundbreaking initiative to develop novel chemical upcycling methods for polyurethane waste. The conventional and electrochemical strategies we're developing address the critical limitations of current recycling technologies and align perfectly with our shared vision of a circular economy. This collaboration represents a significant step towards sustainable plastic management in India and globally, with the potential to transform polyurethane waste into valuable chemical resources."
NCL's world-class expertise in chemical sciences and sustainable technology development makes it an ideal partner for this project. As one of India's premier research institutions with over seven decades of scientific excellence, NCL brings unparalleled capabilities in developing novel chemical processes.
Covestro (India)'s strategic partnership with NCL leverages the laboratory's cutting-edge infrastructure, distinguished research team, and proven track record in environmentally sustainable innovation. Building on this recent agreement, the MoU reinforces both Covestro's and NCL's shared commitment to tackling environmental challenges through scientific advancement. This collaboration unites Covestro's industry leadership with NCL's research excellence to address the pressing issue of plastic circularity.
