BASF takes step toward circular economy with new chemical recycling process for used mattresses

BASF has developed a chemical recycling process for used mattresses and is starting pilot tests at the Schwarzheide site in Brandenburg, Germany. The materials from old mattresses are to be recycled in such a way that they can be used for the production of new mattresses.

"The target is to recover the raw materials with a quality comparable to that of non-recycled/virgin raw materials," says Shankara Keelapandal, Business Management Isocyanates Europe. In doing so, BASF is responding to the raised expectations regarding sustainability of the foam and mattress industry as well as those of consumers. It is an important step to possibly re-enter post-consumer waste back into product lifecycles.

BASF's process breaks down the flexible polyurethane and delivers the initially used polyol. From there, BASF can produce new foam with a significantly lower carbon footprint, because fewer fossil resources are used. 

"It makes projects of that nature quite attractive because, while mattresses are easy to collect and to sort out, at the end of their lifecycle they currently end up being either incinerated or in a landfill, explains technical project manager Arno Volkmann. First volumes of the recycled material will be delivered to project partners later this year to develop pilot projects together. "The project is technically complex, but the potential to reduce waste volumes and save resources makes it all worth it," comments Keelapandal.

With the new process, BASF steps up its efforts to increase sustainability and takes one step further toward a circular economy. Aiming to decouple economic growth from the use of finite resources, BASF accelerates the adoption of the circular economy principle into its day-to-day operations. "This is why we develop a solution to closing the loop for soft polyurethane foam with the chemical recycling of mattresses," adds Keelapandal.  

After an average of ten years most mattresses today are thrown away, thus squandering resources and creating high quantities of waste. At the same time, valuable raw materials are needed to manufacture new soft foam mattresses - above all crude oil. A circular economy solution for mattresses can therefore both reduce waste and save fossil resources.