The Vita Group joins the RENUVA™ Mattress Recycling Program by Dow

HORGEN, Switzerland, October 7, 2020 /3BL Media/ – The Vita Group, Europe’s leading flexible polyurethane foam solutions provider, and Dow (NYSE: Dow) today jointly announce the next stage of the RENUVA™ Mattress Recycling Program with a new collaboration for the production of flexible polyurethane (PU) foams made with RENUVA™ polyols – raw materials created from recycled mattress content. This milestone is a logical next step for the RENUVA™ Mattress Recycling Program journey, a circular economy initiative from Dow.

With this announcement, the RENUVA™ Mattress Recycling Program will demonstrate the possibility of closing the loop for post-consumer mattresses and the role of PU in a circular economy. As previously announced, Eco-mobilier will supply post-consumer PU mattress foam for chemical recycling to the first industrial scale production plant operated by Orrion Chemicals Orgaform in France. The result of this process will be new polyols, ready for use in foam solutions. The Vita Group will start using RENUVA™ Polyols at its production site of ICOA in Crancey, France in early 2021. Vita will also work closely with its customers and mattress brands in the French and European markets to promote the application of the foam for new mattresses as well as seek applications in other product areas.

“The Vita Group is inspired to be partnering with Dow in the innovative RENUVA™ Program. Sustainability and innovation are integral to Vita’s culture, our purpose, and our values. We are committed to being pioneers in the development of a circular economy within our industry, where post-consumer flexible PU foams will be recycled into new raw materials for use in our manufacturing processes to produce new quality foams,” said Ian W. Robb, Group CEO for The Vita Group.

“We are proud to expand the RENUVA™ ecosystem by having Vita on board to produce flexible foam with RENUVA™ polyol. Their market experience and sustainability focus will help enable a faster industry realization of a circular economy for flexible polyurethane foams,” said Ana Carolina Haracemiv, EMEAI Commercial Vice President, Dow Polyurethanes.

The RENUVA™ Mattress Recycling Program aims to recycle up to 200,000 mattresses a year in France and help address the problem of waste landfilling and incineration. Initial production of RENUVA™ polyols is anticipated in the first half of 2021.

More about Dow's RENUVA™ Program: www.dow.com/renuva.

About Dow Polyurethanes

Dow Polyurethanes develops and delivers a broad portfolio of technologies and customized solutions to customers in a variety of industries under its StructuralScience, ComfortScience™, MobilityScience™ and InsulationScience category brands. Applications range from industrial and infrastructure solutions, to consumer comfort solutions in flooring, furniture, bedding and footwear, to automotive solutions for vehicle interior, and energy-efficient insulation materials. The business manufactures and sells key chemical components as well as fully-formulated polyurethane systems for rigid, semi-rigid and flexible foams, and coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers and composites. Dow is the world's largest producer of propylene oxide (PO), propylene glycol (PG), and polyether polyols, and is a leading producer of quality aromatic isocyanates, such as MDI. Striving to meet the specific needs of its customers in their local geographic regions, Dow Polyurethanes operates a global network of production sites and systems houses, as well as innovation and service centers. The business has an ongoing initiative to lead the industry in providing high-performance products that meet critical market needs and contribute to a more comfortable, healthier and resilient society. For more information, visit www.dowpolyurethanes.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation and leading business positions to achieve profitable growth. The Company’s ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company. Dow’s portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure and consumer care. Dow operates 109 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 36,500 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $43 billion in 2019. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.

About Vita Group

The Vita Group is Europe’s leading flexible foam solutions provider. Built on 70 years of heritage, Vita develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of value added and differentiated flexible polyurethane foam and Talalay latex products. Vita's three divisions – Comfort, Technical and Flooring – cater for customers across a broad set of industries including Bed-in-the Box mattresses and Bedding, furniture, hygiene and medical, mobility, construction and flooring. The company's unrivalled pan-European operating base is well positioned to serve local, regional and multi-national customers across Europe and provide innovative and value-added products and applications across the world. For more information about the Vita Group, please visit www.thevitagroup.com

For further information, please contact:

Neil Fernandes
Dow Polyurethanes
+971 56 417 4012
nmfernandes@dow.com

Patrick Kennedy
Porter Novelli
+32 49 97 303 96
patrick.kennedy@porternovelli.be

Alison Vesey
The Vita Group
+44 161 655 2702
alison.vesey@thevitagroup.com