News Release
Announced technology to regenerate polyurethane foam into polyurethane foam through chemical recycling
At the 72nd Polymer Symposium (September 26-28, 2023), Archem Inc., in collaboration with Nagasaki University, announced a technology that uses carbonated water to decompose polyurethane foam and then uses the decomposed material to regenerate new polyurethane foam. This announcement is an important initiative in achieving our company's ESG initiative goal of "building a circular economy."
Aiming to realize resource recycling for polyurethane foam, since 2016 we have been working in collaboration with Assistant Professor Taku Honkumachi of the Nagasaki University Graduate School of Engineering, who discovered an innovative hydrolysis method using carbonated water for chemical recycling, which is the most difficult process.
<Building a circular economy>
Polyurethane foam is used in a wide range of applications, including mattresses and car seats. However, recycling is difficult, and chemical recycling has not yet been implemented in Japan. We have conducted research into chemical recycling using carbonated water, and by improving the process, we have significantly increased the yield of recycled raw materials. We have also succeeded in synthesizing polyurethane foam using 100% recovered polyol obtained through this process. Furthermore, we have confirmed that although the color of the product differs when 30% recycled polyol is substituted, it retains the same excellent cell structure and physical properties as the original foam.
(For details, please refer to the attached PDF document)
Archem will continue to conduct research and development on this theme with an eye toward implementation, in order to achieve its mid- to long-term ESG (environmental) initiative goal of "maximizing resource recovery through the promotion of research and development in chemical recycling."
Contact for inquiries regarding this matter
Archem Inc. Corporate Planning Office, Public Relations Strategy Planning Division
TEL: 050-8885-0603