Polyurethane is used in a variety of industries, which gives it the potential of being damaging to the environment. Fortunately, manufacturers have found ways to make and use polyurethane in an eco-friendly way. From making it out of sustainable materials to reusing and recycling it, polyurethane has flexible and environmentally sound uses.
The Growing Uses of Bio-Sustainable Polyurethane
Some companies are making polyurethane out of bio-sustainable materials. This type of polyurethane is not only sustainable, being made from renewable materials, but it is also durable and flexible, like traditionally-made polyurethane.
Bio-sustainable polyurethane is used in construction and commercial industries as well as with 3-D printing, where the strength of traditional polyurethane is not needed. You can find eco-friendly polyurethane in products like home furnishings, construction substrates, green electronics, art, and footwear.
One of the more exciting eco-friendly uses of bio-sustainable polyurethane is in commercial and industrial gel pads and rollers. Before the use of bio-sustainable polyurethane, rollers used in industrial settings were not reusable or recyclable. Now everything from mousepads to industrial rollers can be made of sustainable materials.
Another exciting use of environmentally friendly polyurethane is in mobile phones. The small computers are often only used for a few years, then discarded into landfills. Manufacturers are using bio-based polyurethanes for the cases and bezels, as well as in other structural elements. Unfortunately, manufacturers still have to use metals that are not sustainable, and many of those are lost when electronics are used for a short time, then discarded.
Recycling and Reusing Polyurethane
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Polyurethane and polyurethane foam can be recycled. During the chemical process of recycling, the byproducts create a raw material that can be used to make more polyurethane.
Recycled polyurethane is often ground with other products to make insulation used in several industries. It is also used to add strength and flexibility to mortar and gypsum. Recycled polyurethane can be found in customized facades on buildings, as well as in window frames and furniture.
Polyurethane Made from Recycled Products
One manufacturer is making polyurethane from recycled plastic bottles. With plenty of resources available, the opportunity to recycle single-use plastic bottles seems limitless. The polyurethane made from recycled plastic bottles is used to make insulation panels placed inside of buildings. The panels serve two eco-friendly purposes. One is to reuse a plethora of single-use bottles, while the other is to increase the energy efficiency of the buildings that use the insulation.
More manufacturers should take on the creative task of finding other ways to make polyurethane from discarded products. Then, other manufacturers should figure out how to use the upcycled polyurethane to make everyday products in commercial, residential, and industrial industries. Potential partnerships between companies that produce the polyurethane and those that use it could benefit the environment and their bottom lines.
Improving Building Efficiency
The versatility of polyurethane makes a useful material in the construction industry, such as new construction and retrofitted buildings, which often have insulation and other products made from polyurethane. The chemical makeup of polyurethane makes it one of the most energy-efficient insulators available. This helps the environment because buildings with polyurethane materials use less energy for heating and cooling.
When the insulation needs to be replaced, the polyurethane can be removed from the building and used in another way. Interestingly, much of the newly installed polyurethane insulation already comes from recycled and reused polyurethane that is mixed with additives and cellulose. When polyurethane can no longer be recycled, it can be used in incinerators to create energy.
It is up to consumers to begin demanding that their insulating products are made from recycled or reused materials. When consumers make the demand, manufacturers will be more likely to meet it and see the benefit of using recycled polyurethane.
When recycled polyurethane is used for insulation, costs to transport the materials to decrease. This is another bonus for the environment. Many types of polyurethane-based insulation will never need to be replaced, which also benefits the environment by creating less waste and using fewer resources.
Considerations for Manufacturers
As polyurethane manufacturers look to the future, they need to consider their manufacturing practices. Their considerations should include:
- How their design and purchasing decisions affect the environment
- The availability and cost of eco-friendly products
- The performance and safety of environmentally-friendly products
- The life-cycle of the products they manufacture as a whole system of use
- Setting environment performance standards
- Setting criteria for sustainability
- How to reduce the CFCs that are released when using polyurethane foam
To help the environment, polyurethane manufacturers must do their part. If nothing is done, manufacturing and using polyurethane can be harmful to the environment. But, with creative thinking, bio-friendly polyurethane can be made from other products and reused when the time is right.
Feature image: John Loo; Image 1: Jonathan Chng
