The Circular Foam project, which aims to enhance the circularity of rigid polyurethane (PU) foam, is entering the end stretch. The project, which brings together multiple industry leaders to address the recycling challenges posed by rigid PU foam, a material extensively used in construction, appliances, and insulation, has run since October 2021 and will be completed in September 2025. Its environmental impact is substantial.
By 2040, it is projected to prevent 1 million tons of waste, cut CO2 emissions by 2.9 million tons, and save 150 million euros in incineration costs. Circularise is helping to test and refine solutions for large-scale implementation of circular PU foam recycling in order to formulate recommendations for scaling the solution throughout Europe.
Led by Covestro and involving partners like Circularise, Kingspan, Electrolux, and Unilin from Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Ireland, the project addresses the complexity of PU foam recycling, which offers energy-saving benefits but lacks recycling standardisation. Circularise’s role has been developing digital product passports (DPPs), facilitating secure, transparent data sharing throughout the value chain and boosting PU foam product recyclability.
Circularise created DPPs for key products, including an Electrolux refrigerator door, a Unilin insulation board, and a Kingspan metal panel. These DPPs provide crucial information on product composition, sustainability certifications, and end-of-life processes, allowing recyclers and consumers to make informed decisions. This level of traceability empowers recycling companies with crucial material and product data, leading to more efficient recycling and higher recovery rates.
Circularise’s platform allows the secure sharing of confidential company data. It uses blockchain technology and zero-knowledge cryptography to protect sensitive information, like proprietary chemical compositions, while enabling companies to share essential details with stakeholders.
“Confidentiality is important to avoid disclosure of sensitive information, such as sources, and grades of materials used. The level of disclosure might be tuned in relation to the counterpart,” said Corrado Cecchini, Director of Global Technology Food Preservation Insulation & Materials Director at Electrolux Italia SpA.
Consumers also benefit from Circularise’s efforts. The company created public-facing Digital Product Passports (pDPPs). These QR-coded passports give consumers insights into a product’s lifecycle, from material composition to environmental impact. This feature enables environmentally conscious consumers to make informed purchasing decisions and supports the growing demand for transparency in sustainability. “In my opinion, public DPPs are a sign of transparency. The level of disclosure shall vary, higher for some customers, and lower with consumers,” said Cecchini.