We assessed our technology against a standard polyurethane foam, and found that FATES showed a significant improvement in strength and elongation. This translates to less waste: with its increased resiliency and durability, FATES products last longer than traditional foams and therefore do not need to be replaced as often. When it does come time for disposal, its new carbon materials are easily recycled back to the earth through composting, unlike polyurethane foams that usually end up as landfill.

In addition to its increased strength and durability, FATES also has a lower density than standard polyurethanes. This means that FATES weighs less than its competitors, an important advantage that translates to greater efficiency and sustainability. For example, we can imagine FATES use in the automotive industry, where a car’s lighter weight ultimately leads to a reduction in its GHG emissions.

The various stages in the production process of FATES each come with considerable CO₂ savings. In the first stage, sourcing and producing a biochemical alternative to adipic acid reduces carbon emissions by 8kg. The next step, producing a biochemical polyol, results in a reduction in carbon emissions of 5kg compared to the production of an adipic acid polyol. The final step in the production process, using the green polyol to produce a renewable foam, equates to a carbon emission reduction of 4kg compared to producing a PU foam from adipic acid.