PolyCast by UT

S01 E11: Are we putting children in the wrong shoes?

In this episode, footwear designer, product developer and entrepreneur Snigdha Agrawal asks whether children’s shoes are really being designed around the needs of growing feet – and how better materials, fit and product development could change the way the industry approaches kids’ footwear.

After struggling to find shoes that properly fitted her daughter, Snigdha began researching what growing feet actually need and ultimately founded GrowKix, a new children’s footwear brand.

She also discusses the role of polyurethane in footwear and why material selection and hydrolysis resistance are important when designing shoes that need to cope with active children and demanding conditions.

“I started questioning my own assumptions of 15 years”

“Footwear should support the kids’ development. They should not restrict it”

“Footwear is a functional element. It’s not a fashion element anymore”

“Technology is also the way a shoe is made, the way you have combined the materials”

Key topics:

• Why growing feet need more than simply the correct shoe length
• Why more cushioning does not necessarily mean a more comfortable children’s shoe
• How GrowKix has been developed and tested around the needs of growing feet
• Where polyurethane fits into children’s footwear
• Why India’s children’s footwear market remains heavily unorganised
• Whether Indian parents are becoming more willing to pay for value and performance
• The speed gap between Indian, Chinese and Vietnamese footwear manufacturing
• The potential for 3D scanning and data-driven footwear design

#Polyurethane #Footwear #ChildrensFootwear #FootwearDesign #India #IndianFootwear #MaterialsScience #ProductDevelopment #PolyCast #PU #FootwearInnovation #Manufacturing #GrowKix #MadeInIndia

S01 E10: Why do buildings still leak – and can polyurethane fix the problem?

In this episode, waterproofing and building envelope specialist Mehul Parikh asks why, despite better materials and decades of construction experience, water ingress remains a problem – and whether polyurethane can help create buildings that are more resilient, durable and sustainable.

The conversation explores why PU is increasingly attractive for demanding waterproofing applications, particularly in India, where monsoons, humidity, extreme heat, large roof areas and tight construction schedules place very different demands on materials.

Parikh explains why waterproofing, insulation and the wider roof assembly need to be considered together from the design stage – particularly as India raises building energy-performance requirements and green roofs, reflective coatings, solar installations and over-deck insulation make roofs increasingly complex.

“Waterproofing is a science. It’s not just a trade”

“You are now looking at chemistry to solve a geometry or a planning problem. That’s not going to work”

“The beauty with polyurethane… is because it’s versatile”

“Durability and sustainability go hand-in-hand”

Parikh also challenges polyurethane producers and formulators to go further. Could waterproofing systems become genuinely “smart”, with sensors or conductive reinforcement capable of identifying a breach before water appears inside a building?

Key topics:

• Why buildings still leak despite advances in waterproofing materials
• The five major causes of waterproofing failure
• Why products themselves may be responsible for surprisingly few failures
• Why waterproofing needs to begin at the design stage
• Where polyurethane outperforms traditional waterproofing technologies
• How PU membranes cope with movement, cracking, water and demanding climates
• Why India’s monsoons and changing climate are raising performance requirements
• The growing integration of waterproofing and roof insulation
• How building regulations and energy-efficiency requirements are changing specifications
• Why durability should be part of the sustainability calculation
• India’s dependence on imported polyurethane raw materials – and the growing importance of local formulation
• Why damp-tolerant and fast-curing PU systems could make a major difference on Indian construction sites

#Polyurethane #Waterproofing #Construction #BuildingEnvelope #India #SustainableConstruction #BuildingMaterials #MaterialsScience #PolyCast #PU #EnergyEfficiency #ClimateResilience

S01 E09: The polyurethane supersuit revolution

In this episode, former international swimmer and swimming commentator Helen Gorman looks back at the extraordinary “supersuit” era of 2008–09, when polyurethane technology transformed competitive swimming, world records tumbled and the sport became caught up in a technological arms race.

Gorman, who also works with swimwear and wetsuit brand Blueseventy, discusses how polyurethane brought greater buoyancy, compression and glide to racing suits, why some swimmers were even wearing two suits, and how manufacturers pushed the technology increasingly far before swimming’s governing body introduced its textile-only rules in 2010.

“In 2009, there were 43 world records broken. Imagine being a spectator there”

“The polyurethane advantage of the way it made you float and glide was just another level”

“People [were] queuing up to get fitted and to get a suit and probably not far off fighting each other to get one of these things in their hands”

“Technology put a bit of fairy dust into a sport and totally changed it”

Key topics:

• The rise of polyurethane “supersuits” in competitive swimming
• How PU improved buoyancy, compression and glide
• The technological arms race between major swimwear brands
• Why 43 world records fell at the 2009 World Championships in Rome
• The controversy over fairness, cost and access to performance-enhancing swimwear
• Why polyurethane suits were banned from elite competition in 2010
• How today's textile racing suits compare with the supersuits
• The remaining world records from the polyurethane era
• What manufacturers could produce today if PU supersuits were suddenly legal again
• Where the line lies between materials innovation and artificial performance enhancement

#Polyurethane #Swimming #Supersuits #SportsTechnology #MaterialsScience #Innovation #Swimwear #PolyCast #PerformanceMaterials #SportsInnovation

S01 E08: The recycling journey of a mattress

In this episode, Chico van Hemert of RetourMatras discusses the complexities and innovations in mattress recycling, including collection systems, dismantling technology, chemical recycling, and the future of circular mattresses in Europe.

• “If you don’t know what’s inside of it, you don’t know what comes out of it.”
• “It’s most of the time better to reuse things instead of producing new ones.”
• “You’re not sleeping on a chemical bomb. It’s just a mattress and you can recycle it.”
• "A loaded gun was the most dangerous thing we found."

Key topics:
The current state of mattress recycling in Europe

Challenges in collection and dismantling of mattresses

The role of EPR schemes in advancing recycling

Technologies for automated dismantling and chemical recycling

The importance of eco-design and material traceability

Progress in repolyol and polyurethane recycling

Future predictions for circular mattresses by 2030

#CircularEconomy #Recycling #Sustainability #MattressRecycling #Polyurethane #Innovation #GreenIndustry #WasteManagement #CircularDesign #EcoInnovation

S01 E07: The role of algae in sustainable polyurethane solutions

In this episode, Dr. Stephen Mayfield discusses the potential of algae as a sustainable feedstock for bioplastics, the challenges in scaling algae production, and the innovative bio-based polyurethane platform Soleic. He shares insights into biodegradability, Bio-Iso manufacturing, and the future of sustainable polymers.

• "Petroleum is just ancient algae"
• "Bio-Iso is made using non-phosgene chemistry"
• "Humans only operate under two modes: do nothing or overreact"

  #algae #bioplastics #biodegradable #polymers #sustainability #bio-iso #polyurethane #microplastics #circular

S01 E06: The future of foam blowing agents: Insights from Mary Bogdan
In this episode, Mary Bogdan, an industry expert with more than 30 US patents and a wealth of experience in foam blowing agent technology, details the transition to low GWP technologies and their impact on the polyurethane sector.

We explore what has changed with the spin-off of Solstice Advanced Materials from Honeywell, the challenges faced in transitioning to greener alternatives, and what this means for the future of the industry.

The PU industry has seen a significant transition from CFCs to HCFCs, HFCs, and now HFOs and other low GWP systems. Mary explains which transition has been the hardest, and how industry must focus – as regulations tighten – on efficiency and effectiveness while minimising the environmental impact. She explains why building codes are becoming stricter, and why embodied carbon and emissions are becoming a key driver.

Plus, Mary explains why finding the best blowing agent is definitely a case for Lieutenant Columbo.

"What has not changed is the people, the facilities, and the products sold."

"We are always looking at the next greatest material."

"Efficiency and effectiveness are key factors."

#Polyurethane #FoamTechnology #BlowingAgents #LowGWP #HFO #SustainableMaterials #Insulation #ConstructionMaterials #BuildingEfficiency #EmbodiedCarbon #RegulatoryCompliance #Innovation #RAndD #SolsticeAdvancedMaterials #Urethanes #Sustainability #GreenBuilding

S01 E05: In this episode, Martin Kruczinna, CEO of Pearl Group, discusses the impact of geopolitical tensions on the polyurethane industry, Pearl's strategic expansion across Asia and Africa, and the company's focus on sustainability and innovation in polyurethane solutions.

Martin talks about supply chain disruptions, production sites and risk mitigation strategies, customer relationships and transparency in pricing, market dynamics, localisation and Saudi Vision 2030, growth and expansion plans, investment in Asia-Pacific, and doubling down on growth: the five-year strategy. Plus, find out why running ultra-marathons isn’t enough of an adrenaline rush for Martin!

"Diversified sourcing helps mitigate risk and provides supply security."

"In times of crisis, ask yourself, what's the worst that can happen?"

"Never hesitate to challenge yourself and your convictions."

#polyurethane #SupplyChain #geopolitics #sustainability #expansion #podcast #MiddleEast #Asia #Europe #recycling #insulation

S01 E04: Ever wondered how a childhood influence can shape a pioneering career in a male-dominated industry? 💪

Audrey Silva Russo’s journey into the polyurethane industry started with her father, a respected figure in the field. From childhood curiosity about his work to realising her own passion during college, she discovered a thriving industry full of challenges and opportunities.

Surrounding herself with inspiring people has been key. As she says, "If you're surrounded by excellence, it raises your expectations and drives you to improve."

Audrey now leads innovation at Purcom Química, developing sustainable solutions like bio-based polyols and chemical recycling routes. Her journey is a reminder that investing in R&D is not just about immediate results - it's about future-proofing an entire industry.

What inspires you to break boundaries?

#Polyurethane #WomenInSTEM #Sustainability #Innovation #PolymerScience

S01 E03: The polyurethane industry is navigating a storm of challenges: energy disruptions, political tensions, and supply chain crises. Demand has stagnated, and the market is feeling the pressure.

We’ve gone from a post-Covid recovery to facing multiple crises – from rising freight costs to raw material price hikes. Every factor is interlinked, creating a complicated web that affects us all.

Are producers waiting for normalcy or adapting to a new reality? The answers lie in understanding these shifts.

In this episode, recorded in April 2026, Steven English and Tobias Spyra of Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company, offer their expert insights.

#Polyurethane #MarketTrends #IndustryInsights #Polycast #GeopoliticalRisk

S01 E02: How is the mattress industry balancing performance, sustainability and changing consumer expectations? In this episode, recorded in April 2026, Alison Keane of the International Sleep Products Association and the Mattress Recycling Council discusses the latest developments in US mattress recycling programmes, the policy and legislative hurdles ahead, innovation in foam and eco-friendly materials, the role of chemical recycling, and the future of polyurethane in mattresses. From customer trends and mattress lifespan to marketing, collaboration and recovery targets, this is a wide-ranging look at the forces shaping the next generation of sleep products.