Dow, in partnership with Gruppo Fiori, announced the development of a novel process that enables the recovery of polyurethane waste from end-of-life vehicles without disassembly. The breakthrough simplifies polyurethane foam recycling and supports a more circular automotive supply chain.

Polyurethane foam, used widely for comfort, safety, and efficiency in vehicle interiors, represents a major opportunity for circular recovery. The new process eliminates the need for dismantling, producing a high-purity waste stream suitable for depolymerization, keeping valuable materials out of landfills, and enabling polyol production with recycled content.

“Collaboration is essential to building a closed-loop supply chain for the automotive industry,” said Dr. Esther Quintanilla, global MobilityScience marketing director, Dow Polyurethanes. “By partnering with Gruppo Fiori, we aim to help OEMs and component manufacturers meet their sustainability goals and regulatory requirements for recycled content without sacrificing performance.”

The initiative builds on a 2024 memorandum of understanding between the two companies and aligns with upcoming European End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation targets requiring increased recycled content in automotive plastics. Dow and Gruppo Fiori are piloting industrial-scale applications to demonstrate technical and economic feasibility for widespread adoption.

Learn more about sustainability efforts in coatings and materials innovation on PCI’s Sustainable page.