JLR has made a significant technical breakthrough in the closed-loop recycling of polyurethane seat foam from its used vehicles by successfully reintegrating it back into the production of new seats.
In collaboration with Dow’s MobilityScience™ material innovations and global leader in automotive seating Adient, this is the first time closed-loop seat foam content has been successfully used in automotive production.
Luxury vehicle manufacturer JLR is now putting the material through its full production process aiming to test its use at scale in pre-production vehicles early next year.
Polyurethane foams are known to be challenging when it comes to recycling and are designed for durability, meaning they end up in landfill and can remain in the environment for several generations. By creating a closed-loop supply chain, JLR will be able to reduce emissions, eliminate waste and enable a secure supply of low carbon seat foam for its vehicles.
The recycled foam will be one element to a new ‘circular seat’ that it is estimated will half CO2e emissions impact while maintaining high performance, avoiding over 44kg of CO2e per seat, the equivalent of charging almost three thousand smartphones2.
Source: Dow
