The 2026 annual conference of Europur, the European Association of manufacturers of flexible PU blocks, and of Euro-Moulders, the association of polyurethane component manufacturers for the automotive industry, was held in June in Antwerp, Belgium. The event confirmed the role of the two associations as central platforms for dialogue, technical exchange and cooperation in the European flexible polyurethane foam sector.

The conference indeed saw around 550 participants from over 170 companies: producers of expanded polyurethanes, raw material suppliers, machinery manufacturers, recycling operators, service providers and downstream partners from sectors such as bedding, furniture and automotive.

Aipef, Italian Flexible Expanded Polyurethane Companies, which is a member of Europur, took part in the conference representing Italian companies with its President Marco Pelucchi.

Europur: 60 years of flexible polyurethane foam history

The conference was the occasion to celebrate 60 years of Europur under the theme “60 years together – Ready for the future”. Bart J. ten Brink, President of the association, emphasized how this important anniversary certainly provided an opportunity to retrace Europur's history, but above all to look to the future.

From European industrial policies and market developments to ecodesign, EPR systems, the circular economy in the automotive sector, responsible product stewardship and material innovation, the discussions at the heart of the two days in Antwerp showed an industry ready to face an increasingly demanding future in a rapidly evolving market.

The complexity of the current operating environment

The first day of the conference placed the polyurethane foam sector within the broader European industrial debate, examining whether EU policies are able to meet the needs of the European chemical industry.

Market perspectives were central to the session moderated by Steven Pacitti, director of Urethanes Technology International. Clint Raine of Belvedere & Partner, Stefan Hermes of the Asian Polyurethanes Business Association, Giulia Taveggia of CSIL and Laura Tovey-Fall of Argus Media provided perspectives on upstream and downstream market developments, including raw materials, global polyurethane trends, demand for furniture and mattresses and broader economic signals.

The debate highlighted the complexity of the current operating environment in which companies must face volatile markets, changing consumer needs, new regulatory expectations and pressures to demonstrate measurable progress on sustainability, in addition to growing concerns about competitiveness, including market pressures from non-European countries.

Regulation becomes corporate strategy

Another central theme of the conference was the growing impact of EU regulation on product design, material selection, value chains and future business models. This aspect emerged particularly clearly during the roundtable on “Regulation on sustainable product design and its implications for furniture and mattresses.”

The discussion underlined how sustainable design, circularity, recyclability, digital product information and future performance requirements are becoming strategic issues for the sector, increasingly influencing how products are designed, documented, marketed and recovered at end of life.

Flexible polyurethane foam, sustainability, recycling and the circular economy at the heart of the debate

Sustainability was at the center of the second day of the conference, in more technical sessions. Speakers presented developments in renewable carbon, bio-based adhesives, chemical recycling, bonding of foams with low PCF content, molecular circularity, bio-based silicone surfactants and new solutions for sustainable comfort. Presentations from companies and organizations such as CSIL, The Vita Group, BASF, Brighi, Purtiso, Evonik, Econic, Wakol, Simalfa, MAYSTA Chemical and the University of Antwerp demonstrated that circularity is no longer just a policy objective, but is increasingly translating into materials, processes, partnerships and measurable performance improvements.

A session dedicated to EPR systems and digital product passports explored how compliance and circularity can be supported by better data and more structured cooperation along the value chain.

Flexible polyurethane foam: innovation, materials and new applications

The technical program also highlighted the versatility of flexible polyurethane foam in various applications, showcasing a dynamic and wide-ranging landscape of innovation across the sector. The session on “Versatility and Innovation” included presentations on multifunctional materials for the transport sector (NEVEON), advances in machinery for reticulated foam (Reticulatus), recycled foam as a circular solution (Federal Eco Foam), new cutting technologies (Fecken Kirfel) and flexible polyurethane foams enhanced with graphene for low-frequency noise control in the automotive sector (CellMat Technologies).

Europur's 60 years and the next 2027 conference

The gala dinner, sponsored by BASF as well as the 2026 conference, took place at the Handelsbeurs in Antwerp on the theme "For the love of polyurethane foam". The event was the ideal setting to celebrate EUROPUR's 60th anniversary and the strong relationships built across the flexible polyurethane foam value chain over these sixty years.

The next annual conference will be held in Cologne, Germany, on 8 and 9 June 2027, where the 90 years of flexible expanded polyurethanes will be celebrated.