Covestro India and CSIR-NCL partner to address polyurethane waste

Covestro India has signed a memorandum of understanding with the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) in Pune to launch a corporate social responsibility project focused on recycling polyurethane waste. Announced on 15 July 2025, the partnership aims to develop chemical processes to convert polyurethane waste into feedstock chemicals, addressing limitations in current recycling methods. The project supports India’s focus on sustainable waste management and the principles of a circular economy.

Covestro, a manufacturer of polymer materials, serves industries including mobility, construction, electronics, and healthcare. Committed to a circular economy, the company targets climate neutrality for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035 and Scope 3 emissions by 2050. In 2024, Covestro recorded Euro 14.2-billion in sales, operating 46 production sites worldwide with approximately 17,500 employees.

Polyurethanes, used in furniture, automotive parts, insulation, and other applications, are difficult to recycle due to their complex chemical structure. Current methods, mostly mechanical, degrade material quality, require high energy, or produce harmful byproducts. The Covestro-NCL partnership seeks to develop scalable chemical recycling technologies that transform polyurethane waste into reusable materials, reducing landfill use and environmental impact.

Avinash Bagdi, director and head of sales at Covestro India, said, “This partnership strengthens our commitment to finding solutions for polyurethane waste and supports Covestro’s vision of becoming fully circular. By developing methods to upcycle polyurethanes, we’re taking steps toward a sustainable future in line with our corporate vision of driving the transition to a circular economy.”

Dr Ashish Lele, Director of NCL, added, “CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory is excited to partner with Covestro (India) to develop chemical upcycling methods for polyurethane waste. The strategies we’re developing address the limitations of current recycling technologies and align with our shared vision of a circular economy.”