CPI Helps Guide the Industry through Health Issues.

Polyurethanes improve our lives by helping to provide a better standard of living at home, work, throughout industry and in the leisure sector. It can be found in liquid coatings and paints, tough elastomers such as roller blade wheels, rigid insulation for buildings, soft flexible foam in mattresses and automotive seats or as an integral skin in sports goods such as skis or surfboards.

Since the initial patent in 1937, polyurethanes have shown incredible growth and innovation possibilities leading to commercial consumption of nearly 8 billion pounds in 2004 in the United States, Canada and Mexico and approximately 28 billion pounds globally. Additionally, the polyurethanes industry operates in over 650 locations in the United States, directly generating $19.7 billion in output and supporting about 47,500 jobs.

Polyurethanes are a versatile group of plastics, and capable of an almost infinite number of variations in chemistry, structure and application. However, the manufacturing and/or application of polyurethane products may potentially expose workers to a variety of health or safety issues. Working with raw materials and hot products; moving, storing, and transporting chemicals; and working in confined or elevated spaces are all potential risks to which polyurethane workers may be exposed.

As an industry advocate, the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) offers of a host of materials that can help companies understand the health and safety issues related to using polyurethanes and polyurethane raw materials.

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CPI maintains a database of buyers and sellers of recycled polyurethane and polyurethane raw materials in the United States and Canada.

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