Yihang x Covestro: Advancing Low-Carbon Development in Office Furniture

On November 6, at the 5th China International Import Expo, Yihang Technology joined polymer manufacturer Covestro and supply chain partners including Chen Zhan New Materials, Huafon Microfibre, Sun Alliance Gujia, and H.B. Fuller adhesives to sign a strategic cooperation agreement on green and sustainable office furniture, further advancing the application of innovative circular materials.

Led by Yihang Technology and Covestro, the partners are focusing on “sustainable materials,” concentrating on the use of bio-based waterborne coatings, bio-based foam, microfiber materials, furniture adhesives, and post-consumer recycled plastics in office furniture — lowering the carbon footprint of Yihang products, supporting the industry's low-carbon development, and contributing to the “dual carbon” goals.

Supply chain synergy drives the low-carbon transition

Under the guidance of the “dual carbon” goals, fulfilling those responsibilities has become a must-answer question for relevant industries and enterprises as market players and drivers of technological innovation, and more and more companies are proactively embracing the targets. Yihang Technology is accelerating its green transition with the brand philosophy of “bringing nature into the office,” championing “healthy work, formaldehyde-free offices” together with its partners, continuously upgrading environmental performance and pioneering the innovative use of sustainable material solutions, and providing users with healthy, eco-friendly, comfortable, and intelligent commercial office space solutions.

Chen Yuanfang, Deputy General Manager of Yihang Technology Co., Ltd., said: “Yihang has always taken 'everything for healthy offices' as its mission, running the values of technology, nature, and health through the entire life cycle of furniture manufacturing — which dovetails perfectly with Covestro's circular economy vision. We look forward to working with Covestro and partners across the supply chain to create low-carbon, eco-friendly office furniture and accelerate the industry's green transformation.”

As one of the world's leading producers of high-quality polymers, Covestro has long used innovative products, processes, and methods to help customers advance sustainability and quality of life across many fields. By increasing the use of alternative raw materials, it helps different value chains cut CO2 emissions and accelerate the shift to a circular economy. Lei Huanli, President of Covestro China, said: “We are delighted to join hands with Yihang and all partners to advance the green development of the office furniture industry. By expanding local production capacity and scale for circular materials, we hope to see more innovative solutions reach commercial use and contribute to China's high-quality, sustainable development and its 'dual carbon' goals.”

Low-carbon, high-performance new materials for office furniture

The Yihang products displayed at Covestro's booth hide a “black tech” secret: the coating uses partially bio-based raw materials. It is eco-friendly and fast-drying, shortening production schedules, while resisting wear and stains, staying easy to maintain, and lasting for years. Covestro's bio-based waterborne UV technology — Bayhydrol® CQ and Decovery® CQ coating resins — contains about 35% bio-based content, lowering the carbon footprint of furniture coatings, while matching conventional fossil-based products in chemical resistance and mechanical performance. The technology has completed testing on the modern waterborne UV five-axis spray line at Yihang's Qiandao Smart Manufacturing Base in Zhejiang, with the appearance and performance of coated products meeting expectations.

In addition, Covestro supplies the furniture industry with materials containing biomass content produced via the mass balance approach — for example, ISCC PLUS-certified high-performance microfiber artificial leather based on Desmodur® CQ isocyanates, high-density foam solutions, and formaldehyde-free furniture adhesive solutions — all helping to reduce carbon footprint emissions.

With more than 30 years in office furniture, Yihang Technology's partnership with Covestro and other supply chain partners will bring healthy, eco-friendly, comfortable, and intelligent office space solutions to more users, empower industrial upgrading, and drive the office furniture industry's green, low-carbon development.