The industrial blueprint for chemical polyurethane recycling is expanding into Asia. KPX Chemical and Chinyang Polyurethane have finalized plans to construct a dedicated flexible foam recycling plant at a newly acquired industrial site within the Yongsan Industrial Complex in Eumseong County, Chungcheongbuk-do.
Scheduled for commercial commissioning in June 2027, the project marks the first time H&S Anlagentechnik's proprietary depolymerization technology will be deployed on an industrial scale in Asia, following successful commercial operations across Europe and Latin America. The closed-loop corporate model design ensures Chinyang supplies manufacturing scrap directly to KPX, which will process the waste back into the chemical value chain.
30% Raw Material Substitution with Standard Performance
Utilizing specialized chemical reactors engineered by H&S, a technology validated extensively since 2013 through major European installations such as Dow's Renuva program, the South Korean facility targets several technical parameters:
High Virgin Material Replacement: The recovered polyols are engineered to replace up to 30% of virgin polyol in standard flexible foam formulations, with higher substitution rates achievable in specialized product lines.
Mechanical Property Retention: The resulting circular foam matrices are certified to retain identical structural rigidity, mechanical properties, and seating comfort compared to conventional PU alternatives.
Substantial Environmental Offsets: Based on industrial benchmarks, each baseline H&S unit effectively diverts 1,000 tons of foam waste annually (equivalent to roughly 200,000 mattresses) away from landfills and municipal incinerators.
Following the initial stabilization of the flexible foam recycling baseline, KPX Chemical plans to evaluate parallel chemical recycling lines for rigid polyurethane foams utilized in LNG carrier insulation, appliance refrigeration systems, and structural construction panels.
Industrial Collaboration Driven by Corporate ESG Targets
KPX Chemical Corporate Statement:
This project represents the foundational starting point for establishing a circular economy ecosystem within Korea’s polyurethane industry. We are creating a robust foundation for the stable supply of high-performance materials while drastically reducing fossil-based raw material consumption.
Mila Skokova, Deputy Head of Sales at H&S Anlagentechnik:
KPX Chemical and Chinyang Polyurethane are vital strategic partners in expanding the circular polyurethane framework across Asia. We are delighted to contribute to the development of a more sustainable global materials industry through this closed-loop collaboration.
