The disposal of rigid Polyurethane (PU) foam, commonly used in refrigerators and construction, poses a significant environmental challenge. Due to its complex structure, PU foam is difficult to recycle, often ending up in landfills or incinerators, contributing to plastic waste. As demand for sustainable waste management grows, designing and developing effective recycling solutions for PU foam has become critical.
The EU Horizon 2020-funded CIRCULAR FOAM project is addressing this issue through innovative chemical recycling technologies, eco-design, and regional clusters to create closed-loop systems for PU foam waste. The presentation will share insights from Work Package 1 (WP1) out of 9 in the project, which focuses on stakeholder engagement and consumer behavior across Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands. Based on stakeholder interviews, Focus Group Interviews (FGI), and surveys, WP1 explores regional approaches to PU foam recycling, identifying gaps in regulations, collection processes, and consumer behaviors and attitudes, and offers strategies for advancing toward a circular PU foam economy.