K 2016 is a premiere for Covestro –  the first time the company is appearing at the show under its new name. Speaking at the pre-K event organized last week in Cologne, Covestro CEO Patrick Thomas emphasized the role of the company’s innovative and sustainable materials in helping to make the world a brighter place. “Bright, in every sense of the word,” he stressed. “Not just lighter and more colorful, but also smarter.”

According to Thomas, 80% of R&D spending goes towards sustainability projects. “Through our continuous development to deliver more sustainable products and processes, we aim to address many of the Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations last year,” he said. “Our product solutions contribute significantly to achieving these goals. We want to get the most out of the carbon invested, generate greater value-added while closing the carbon cycle,” he declared.

Covestro’s participation as an official partner in the Solar Impulse mission -  spearheaded by Swiss aviation pioneers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg -  illustrates the company’s commitment to these sustainability goals. Powered solely by solar energy, the aircraft has almost completed its journey around the world. The plane will “change the way we look at aviation”, said Piccard who, together with Borschberg, joined last week’s event via Skype. “It demonstrates that clean technology works. This is a plane that can fly forever!”

Covestro was responsible for developing components such as an ultra-lightweight and thermal-insulating polyurethane foam that lends the cockpit, which incredibly weighs just under 30 kilos, its required strength while protecting the pilots from temperature extremes.

“It serves as a flying laboratory for us to test our products in,” said Thomas, “leading to new applications in daily life.”  The rigid polyurethane foam, for example, will be used in the future as high-efficiency insulation in refrigeration systems, where it reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

“The solutions to climate change are here, they are available and profitable. When flying the Solar Impulse, it can be minus 41o outside, but inside the plane has a constant temperature, without either a heating system or air conditioning,” Piccard explained. “Imagine what that means for building affordable housing!

Which is precisely, according to Thomas, a new area – “the start of a new journey” -  that Covestro is moving into. At K 2016, the company will be showcasing a host of practical, affordable material solutions it has developed for the world’s underserved communities. These range from PIR-based wall and roof panels for low cost housing units, toilet facilities and affordable refrigeration houses to polycarbonate solar drying systems for drying fresh produce. “Affordable solutions that make it possible to store vaccines safely, or keep food fresh overnight, or provide protection against poor weather conditions for people at the base of the pyramid,” said Thomas.

“One great challenge, however, is the local conditions, above all the lack of infrastructure,” he continued. “Covestro therefore does not limit its activities to product development, but also coordinates projects on site. Depending on the requirements, we establish a local network of partner construction companies, contractors, government agencies, financial service providers and civil society.”
He added: “It’s a big growth market, and a profitable business model.”

People, Planet, Profit – all the boxes are ticked.

“And that’s what ‘s behind our ambition to reach people with our products,” Thomas concluded.