Covestro launches CQ-Configurator, a digital tool enabling real-time sustainability assessment and optimized polyurethane foam design across applications.
Covestro, a global leader in advanced polymer materials, has unveiled the CQ-Configurator, an innovative digital solution designed to help polyurethane (PU) value chain partners develop more sustainable foam products in real time. The new application-first tool enables users to evaluate and optimize the environmental impact of both flexible and rigid polyurethane foam formulations by leveraging Covestro’s verified environmental data. It is applicable across a wide range of end uses, including mattresses, upholstered furniture, insulation panels, and other specialized foam applications.
The CQ-Configurator converts complex raw-material sustainability data into clear, actionable insights, making environmental performance assessment accessible to users across different organizational functions. By simplifying sustainability calculations, the tool helps companies respond more effectively to rising market expectations, Scope 3 emissions reporting obligations, and increasingly stringent regulatory frameworks. According to Patrizia Wegner, Vice President Sales Flex Foam EMLA at Covestro, the CQ-Configurator addresses these challenges by enabling fast, data-driven sustainability evaluations while improving transparency throughout the polyurethane value chain.
Traditionally, sustainability assessments often require extensive manual calculations and lengthy internal coordination. The CQ-Configurator removes these barriers by allowing companies to compare alternative material choices and achieve targeted sustainability profiles in just a few clicks. Dennis Wagner, Marketing Manager Soft Furniture at Covestro, highlighted that the tool significantly reduces the time and effort needed for sustainability alignment, helping organizations move from data analysis to informed decision-making much faster.
The CQ-Configurator is designed to be intuitive and practical. Users can choose between flexible or rigid foam applications, define technical performance requirements, and specify the proportion of mass-balanced isocyanate and polyol materials within a formulation. Based on these inputs, the tool automatically calculates the associated carbon dioxide footprint and the share of sustainable materials for each scenario. This enables companies to clearly understand the environmental consequences of formulation decisions at an application-specific level.
By translating technical formulation parameters into transparent sustainability metrics, the CQ-Configurator provides a reliable foundation for internal discussions and strategic planning. It allows rapid comparison of multiple material options and generates exportable results that support collaboration between R&D, procurement, sustainability, marketing, and sales teams. In addition, the tool helps connect material selection with market-relevant sustainability benefits, supporting both product innovation and customer communication strategies.
The CQ-Configurator has been developed for broad industry adoption and supports a wide range of professional roles, from technical experts to non-technical decision-makers. Its user-friendly interface ensures that sustainability insights can be effectively utilized across sectors such as bedding, furniture, construction, and household appliances, where sustainability is becoming a key competitive differentiator. As Wagner noted, the tool enables companies to balance environmental performance with economic and functional requirements.
With this launch, Covestro becomes the first European polyurethane materials supplier to introduce a comprehensive digital sustainability assessment tool covering multiple PU foam applications. Built on third-party-verified life-cycle assessment data and supported by Covestro’s long-standing polyurethane expertise, the CQ-Configurator delivers credible and transparent sustainability metrics. The initiative reflects Covestro’s ongoing commitment to expanding its digital solutions portfolio and supporting customers in achieving their long-term sustainability goals.
