TOI impact story: IISc eco-friendly foam moves from lab to market

BENGALURU: An eco-friendly bio-based foam developed by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), is moving from the laboratory towards commercialisation, with Absolute Cold LLP working on its use in cold-chain and temperature-controlled packaging.The foam, developed by Prof Suryasarathi Bose and Prof Subodh Kumar, along with the team comprising Sampath Parasuram, Akshay Sunil Salvi, Supriya H, Sandeep Kumar Singh and Amit Malakar, is an alternative to conventional polyurethane (PU) foam, which is widely used for insulation but is difficult to recycle after use.The IISc material was designed to combine the properties needed for insulation with a more sustainable approach to what happens to the material at the end of its life. The journey from laboratory to industry also had a link to TOI.Bose said a report on the development published by TOI on Nov 11, 2024, helped bring a potential industry partner on board.