Why is polyurethane foam the go-to choice for automotive seat cushions?

Sustainability demands are driving change in the car industry. A circular approach is the answer

We all love our cars, but our billions of daily journeys plus the production of millions of new vehicles every year result in significant greenhouse gas emissions. The auto industry is under increasing pressure from consumers and governments worldwide to make mobility more sustainable. To make a real difference, we need to take a circular approach to sustainability at every stage of car manufacturing. Although electric vehicles (EVs) can made impressive strides in reducing day-to-day operation emissions, there's much more that can be done. This is where our polyurethane foam comes in - as a more sustainable material solution - which can contribute to a more climate friendly car manufacturing practices overall. By sourcing bio-circular feedstocks from waste and residues, we can reduce fossil fuel extraction and significantly lower the product’s CO2 emissions.

Covestro is committed to providing innovative and more sustainable solutions for the automotive sector, and we look forward to having car manufacturers and their suppliers join with us to drive positive change in the industry.

Lower CO2 emissions for polyurethane foam cushions at industrial scale

As the global community seeks ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, the automotive sector has been exploring a variety of alternatives. At Covestro, we are already making a significant contribution towards sustainability by integrating a 50% sustainable share and a significant CO2 reduction into some products such as Desmodur® CQ, Desmophen® CQ, Hyperlite® CQ and Arcol® CQ, which are ideally suited for foam seat cushion applications. With the CQ branding suffix, we highlight our commitment to products that drive greater sustainability. We take pride in offering all major components required for PU seat cushions, which means a significantly lower CO2 footprint and less fossil resource use for this key input into polyurethane foam. Our direct drop-in approach ensures fast implementation under the same processing conditions, without any technical risk. Thanks to our commitment to innovation, we have made more sustainable materials for automotive seat cushions readily available at an industrial scale. Our value chain partners in the car industry can start reducing their fossil material dependence and boosting their circularity today. At Covestro, we are committed to playing our part in shaping a more sustainable future for everyone.