Sinomax debuts first low-carbon mattress using Covestro’s bio-attributed TDI

Sinomax, a manufacturer of polyurethane-based comfort products, made the global debut of its first low-carbon mattress today. The mattress uses bio-attributed TDI (toluene diisocyanate), a key raw-material component for the production of flexible foams, purchased from Covestro. This marks an important milestone in the partnership between the two companies as they strive to reduce the carbon footprint of their products for sustainable living.

The unveiling of the EcoFoam mattress at Covestro’s booth during the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) builds on a deal reached late last year, when Covestro signed its first commercial contract for supplying mass-balanced TDI to Hong Kong-based Sinomax.

“We are honored to stage the world debut of our new low-carbon sleep system products together with Covestro at the CIIE,” said Sinomax President Eric Cheung. “This marks a major step towards sustainable development at Sinomax Group, amid growing market demand for low-carbon products in China and around the globe. We look forward to further cooperation with Covestro on a global scale for more sustainable products.”

TDI is a key building block of flexible polyurethane foams, which are widely used in the furniture, automotive, and shoe industries. It can also be used in the production of polyurethane coatings and adhesives.

Under the mass balance method, bio-based or recycled raw materials are fed in at an early stage of extraction and mathematically assigned to the purchasers of downstream products. Mass-balanced products are in the same good quality as their fossil-based counterparts, and they can help customers reduce CO₂ emissions without the need to change their production procedures.

Covestro’s mass-balanced bio-attributed TDI can reduce the carbon footprint by 36 percent. For Sinomax, it means a reduction of about 10 kilograms of CO₂ equivalent emissions for a single EcoFoam mattress, without compromise to breathability, hardness and durability of the space cotton.

Lars Phillips, Head of Sales for TDI and Polyol in Asia Pacific at Covestro’s Performance Materials segment, said: “Covestro and Sinomax have invested in bio-based feedstock to offer more sustainable products to consumers. That shows that the upcoming mega trends of sustainability and carbon reduction play a gradually more important role for buying decisions and increasingly become a commercial reality.”

Mass-balanced products including TDI offered by Covestro are certified to the internationally recognized ISCC PLUS standard, which is already joined by many big multinational companies. Certified members can pass on certificates documenting the sustainable share of their products along the value chain.