This study explores the recyclability of polyurethane (PU) foam recovered from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in the context of the EU End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation (ELVR). With the support of 11 organisations, it demonstrates the technical feasibility of both mechanical and chemical recycling of PU foam from ELVs.
The research evaluates both post-industrial and post-consumer PU foam and explores three primary recycling pathways:
- Mechanical recycling
- Chemical recycling (depolymerisation)
- Thermochemical recycling (HTC Process)
Current processes for converting PU foam into r-polyols require clean and dry PU feedstock. Improvements are therefore needed in the storage and dismantling of ELVs to enable the recovery of sufficiently high-quality and process-ready PU foam. Improved design for dismantling could also facilitate more efficient recovery of clean foam while reducing material losses.