The new seat foam claims to feature closed-loop recycled content for the first time in the automotive industry. Credit: Dow.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has collaborated with Dow MobilityScience and seat maker Adient to develop prototype car seats featuring Renuva repolyol, a material derived from polyurethane foam sourced from used vehicles.

This marks a step towards circularity in automotive seating, with the companies claiming it as the first successful use of closed-loop seat foam content in automotive production.

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Initial laboratory tests have demonstrated the technical feasibility of incorporating 20% closed-loop repolyol content in the seat foam.

The next phase aims to increase this percentage further. The recycled foam will be part of a new “circular seat,” which is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by half while maintaining performance.

This could eliminate over 44kg of CO2  per seat, equivalent to charging nearly 3,000 smartphones.

JLR is currently integrating the material into its full production process and plans to test its application in pre-production vehicles by early 2025.

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This initiative stems from ongoing research at JLR’s Circularity Lab in Gaydon, Warwickshire, focused on reducing waste and enhancing vehicle recyclability.

At the Circularity Lab, cross-disciplinary teams from sustainability, engineering, procurement, and design collaborate with suppliers and materials experts.

They help vehicles to identify and address challenges in reusing and recycling mixed materials within cars.

Dow Mobility president Jon Penrice said: “This collaboration highlights Dow’s MobilityScience initiative to drive sustainable mobility through advanced material science. By leveraging our expertise and collaborating with Adient and JLR, we are developing technologies that support our net-zero carbon emissions and our circular and renewable solutions goals.

“Through Dow’s RENUVA sustainability program, Dow addresses the growing demand for recycled materials by converting End of Life waste into new raw circular materials, helping our customers meet their recycled content targets.

“Through chemical and advanced recycling processes, this breakthrough depolymerisation closed-loop recycling solution meets the requirements and maintains the superior comfort and quality of JLR seats.”