The Next Life Polyol
Engineering PIR circularity at scale
We’re proud to launch The Next Life Polyol, a high-quality recycled Polyol produced at our breakthrough plant in Belgium. Polyol is a key raw material used in the manufacture of new PIR insulation boards.
Decarbonisation in construction requires more than ambition - it demands solutions that work at scale. That’s why Recticel Insulation is taking circular innovation out of the lab and embedding it directly into core manufacturing. Unlike many sector initiatives that remain at pilot stage, this recycling facility is built for continuous, industrial-scale production enabling real impact in circular construction.
By converting PIR production waste into high-performing recycled Polyol, we’re not just improving processes - we’re redefining how insulation is produced, responsibly and at scale.
Introducing The Next Life Polyol
Advancing sustainable construction by recycling PIR waste into high-quality polyol at scale.
1. Operating at full scale, moving beyond pilot
Recycling 4,000 tonnes of PIR waste annually, transforming it into 6,000 tonnes of high-quality recycled polyol.
2. Decarbonising where it matters most
The Next Life Polyol is expected to deliver a 30-50% reduction in total carbon footprint compared to virgin polyol.
3. Making circularity the standard
Recycled polyol is integrated into all our product lines, replacing 1/3 of virgin polyol across our boards.
4. Engineered for continuity
The state-of-the-art recycling plant is designed to operate 24/7 across three shifts, ensuring consistent supply.
Discover our free e-magazine
In this edition, we take you behind the scenes of our collaborations and give our partners the opportunity to speak.
A new chapter in PIR circularity
The Next Life Polyol is not just a project name, it’s the way we frame circularity as something real, operational and scalable.
Is construction in transition to a circular model?
Yvan Huet explains that the challenge to the energy performance of buildings, but now extends to reducing their overall carbon footprint. At Recticel Insulation, this translates into concrete actions, such as the integration of recycled materials into the manufacturing process.
Can PIR be recycled?
Ward Dhaese gives a clear answer: yes, and in an innovative way. Thanks to years of research, Recticel Insulation has now mastered this technology on an industrial scale. A major advance that makes it possible to recover thousands of tons of waste each year, while guaranteeing performance and quality.
Circular leap forward: Recticel introduces recycled polyol on an industrial scale
As the construction sector faces increasing pressure to decarbonize and embrace circularity, Recticel Insulation is making a decisive step forward. With the launch of its industrial installation for recycled polyol, the company demonstrates how circular innovation can be integrated into the production process on a large scale.
Read more
