Covestro (India) Private Limited has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), launching a new initiative under its Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. The partnership is focused on developing advanced solutions to upcycle polyurethane waste—an area where current recycling methods fall short. The goal is to create sustainable, scalable chemical recycling techniques that can convert this waste into useful chemical components, thus promoting circularity and reducing the strain on the environment.
The joint project will investigate cutting-edge strategies for breaking down polyurethane materials, which are notoriously difficult to recycle due to their complex composition. Current recycling approaches for polyurethanes, such as mechanical grinding and limited chemical processing, often result in quality loss or harmful byproducts. This collaboration seeks to overcome those barriers by finding cleaner, more efficient ways to recover value from used materials.
Polyurethanes are widely used in automotive parts, furniture, insulation, and electronics, but their end-of-life options are extremely limited. Most of this waste ends up in landfills due to the cross-linked structure of the polymers, which makes them hard to repurpose. This initiative comes at a critical time, as industries and governments alike push for more circular systems to handle waste from complex plastic products.
Avinash Bagdi, Director and Head of Sales at Covestro (India), emphasized the significance of the initiative: “This collaboration highlights our commitment to sustainable innovation. It aligns with Covestro’s vision of achieving full circularity by developing smart ways to reuse polyurethane, rather than discard it. We’re actively working to build a future where waste becomes a resource.”
NCL Director Dr Ashish Lele also commented on the urgency of the project: “We’re thrilled to partner with Covestro on this important initiative. Our research into both traditional and electrochemical upcycling techniques is designed to address the limitations of today’s recycling technologies. It’s a chance to set a new standard for how polyurethane waste is managed in India and beyond.”
NCL brings deep scientific knowledge and technical strength to the project. With over 70 years of research excellence, the lab has pioneered a wide range of environmentally responsible chemical solutions. Its expertise in developing new materials and processing methods makes it a valuable partner in solving the polyurethane waste challenge.
Covestro, on the other hand, brings industrial scale and application experience to the table. Known globally for its advanced polymer materials, Covestro supports industries such as construction, mobility, electronics, and healthcare. The company has made circular economy and carbon neutrality core parts of its global strategy.
Together, the two organizations are aiming to develop viable recycling technologies that can be adopted widely, reducing dependence on landfills and raw fossil-based inputs. Their collaboration signals a shift toward industrial solutions that support long-term environmental goals without compromising product quality or performance.
This new project builds on recent agreements between Covestro and NCL, and reflects a shared commitment to advancing green technology through science and innovation. By combining industrial insight with deep research capabilities, the partnership aims to deliver real progress in sustainable plastic use.
With a global presence and a strong sustainability agenda, Covestro remains focused on achieving net-zero emissions for its direct operations by 2035, and for its supply chain emissions by 2050. Projects like this serve as a critical step toward that vision, and toward reshaping how materials are made, used, and reused in the years ahead.
