All the sustainable and technological innovations of flexible expanded polyurethane on display at Design Week

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This year Poliuretano-è presents a project in partnership with Materially Now at the Superstudio Più in Via Tortona 27. The set-up of the exhibition space is made with flexible expanded polyurethane that will be reused or reutilized at the end of Design Week.

Materially, which for over two decades has been a point of reference in Italy for innovative materials research, has decided to focus on this material for its collective exhibition, as the polyurethane used will be given a new life. The plan is to hold the concept and criteria of circularity in high regard.

The exhibition will not only showcase innovative products, but will also act as a networking hub with the goal of presenting, recount, delve in on and understand the uniqueness of the materials presented by the participating companies. For this reason, 40 seats will be placed in the centra area, all made with natural polyurethane, to make attending the busy schedule of meetings in comfort or simply as an area to rest and recover from the exertions of the Fuorisalone. The seats are all different colours, each corresponding to a different lift and density creating a sensory journey that will allow each visitor to experience the varying sensations of comfort.

Many different types of flexible expanded polyurethane exist: each of the manufacturing companies that participate in the Poliuretano-è project have catalogues with over 100 products with differing characteristics, although most people are not aware of them. These are polyurethanes with different features that can be used for seating, backrests, mattresses, and cushions, as well as other specialized application.

Poliuretano-è presents all the latest technological and sustainable innovations in the world of polyurethane: materials derived from recycled polyols, exhausted oils, or plastic bottles, thermo-sensitive polyurethane, with water-resistant properties or with high water retention to allow for the growth of plants of roofs and walls.

Once Design Week has ended all the seats will be donated to the Kayros Association in Vimodrone, run by Don Claudio Burgio, chaplain of the juvenile detention centre ‘Beccaria’ in Milan, which tackles the social reintegration of young people. The remaining materials, instead of going to landfill, will be given a new lease on life after a mechanical processing treatment, conducted by the manufacturing companies, mixing the polyurethane and the appropriate binding agents and create new intermediate goods such as carpet padding, sound absorption panelling, industrial packaging, and insulation panels, which extend the life cycle of the material.

“The quality of Italian polyurethane is recognised at European level – highlights Marco Pelucchi, President of AIPEF (Italian Manufacturers of Flexible Expanded Polyurethane) – we can easily call it “made in Italy” as it grounds its roots not only the technological production capability of our manufacturing companies, but also our ability to create new innovative products. We have fully embraced Materially’s request to set up an exhibition made with materials produced by our associate that will then be recycled or reused to close the circle as new products. It’s a virtuous example for something that will be taken more and more into account in the future.”

Here are the details on the innovative flexible expanded products being showcased:

OLMO GIUSEPPE spa products

Visco Pet is a viscoelastic polyurethane made from a minimum of 13% renewable raw materials. The use of one 5 cm Visco Pet panel in a double mattress saves the equivalent of 85 water bottles from being dispersed in the environment.

AIR VE 45 PET: the first reticulated viscoelastic polyurethane foam made with polyols recycled from PET with unprecedented breathability and drainage properties, which makes it ideal for outdoor furniture and yachting.

VIRIdiVITA is the only system that utilises natural rainwater cycles retaining water within flexible expanded water-retaining polyurethane foam, and then slowly releasing it into the environment, making it available to the plants’ roots, and making the creation of green roofs and walls possible.

 

ORSA FOAM spa Products

I-fo@m Th 45 BrVe: viscoelastic polyurethane with microencapsulated PCMs that remove excess heat, and open cell structure that ensures elevated permeability of the air and breathability of the material.

RisOrsa 42 VP: viscoelastic pneumatic polyurethane with a reduced environmental impact made using a high percentage of natural polyols that replace part of the raw materials, without altering the fundamental characteristics of quality and comfort. Ideally used in cushions.

Breeze 50 HR: polyurethane with open cell structure that allows for the flow of air and the rapid dispersion of humidity and heat, ensuring the maximum feeling of comfort and well-being.

 

PELMA spa Products

Natura® is a medium/high density polyurethane, in the conventional, high-resilience (HR), and viscoelastic variants, containing renewable raw materials made with plant-based oils.

Thermofresh® is a group of flexible expanded polyurethanes that gives the finished product thermal and hygienic benefits. Thermofresh® can absorb heat through the fusion of PCM (Phase Change Materials) microcapsules contained within, whereas the special Ultrafresh treatment using silver ions creates its anti-mould and anti-bacterial properties.

Bio Circular is made with polyols certified ISCC PLUS derived from end-of-life plant-based resources. These Bio Circular polyurethanes have the same physical and mechanical properties as conventional products, while also allowing for significant reduction of carbon footprints.

Poliuretano-è                                                                                                                           

Poliuretano-è, is the project backed by the leading Italian flexible expanded polyurethane manufacturers: Cires, Nir, Olmo, Orsa foam, Pelma, Sip, and aims to promote the potential of this material.

The project is also supported by the companies supplying raw materials and additives for production: Covestro, Evonik, BorsodChem Wanhua, Dow, Hutsmann, Shell.

 

Press Office – Encanto Public Relations

Roberto Gazzini –  roberto.gazzini@encantopr.it – Mob 338.329196