Mumbai, November 10, 2025 – Industry leaders have urged the government to strengthen policy support and update Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms to enhance global competitiveness in India’s polyurethane (PU) and foam sector. The call came during a Leadership Dialogue held ahead of the 2nd edition of UTECH INDIA – Sustainable Polyurethane & Foam (ISPUF) Expo, scheduled for November 13–15 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, NESCO, Mumbai. Organised by Crain Communications and Media Fusion, UTECH India is the country’s only dedicated platform for PU, foam, mattresses, and insulation technologies. The Dialogue, themed Transforming PU Applications, Insulation & Cold Storage Solutions, brought together experts to chart a roadmap for sustainable innovation. Driving Green and Efficient Construction Speakers highlighted the growing importance of polyurethane in achieving energy-efficient and sustainable infrastructure. Abasaheb Kale, Managing Director, pdkASM Consulting, said, “With 25 per cent prefabricated components mandated in government projects, metal sandwich panels are vital to achieving speed, sustainability, and thermal comfort in construction.” Architect Prashant Deshmukh called the current phase a “golden period” for sandwich panels as demand for quality, energy-efficient construction rises. Echoing the sentiment, Badruddin Sudanwala of ROCKWOOL and Nitin Kolekar of Aryanvi PU Solutions stressed the need for fire-rated, eco-friendly products and stronger regulatory alignment. Focus on Standards and Policy Reform Abhay V. Udeshi, Chairman, Jayant Agro-Organics Ltd, said India’s PU industry could become a global hub if supported by policy alignment under Atmanirbhar Bharat and the PLI scheme. He urged the enforcement of stronger BIS norms and support for R&D and MSME technology upgrades. Anup Dhave, Head, Metecno Asia BV, added that outdated BIS 12436 standards, scrap disposal, and high freight costs are key hurdles limiting competitiveness. Sanjay Gupta of IFCOMA linked the PU sector’s growth to global trends in footwear, automotive, and construction markets, noting India’s progress in sustainable and lightweight materials. Market Outlook Remains Strong Taher Patrawala, Managing Director, Media Fusion, said the India Sandwich Panel Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8 per cent – from USD 558.6 million in FY2024 to USD 1.04 billion by FY2032. Prefabricated composite panels, currently 8 per cent of the building materials market, are poised for further expansion as India moves towards sustainable construction and green infrastructure. The Dialogue set the agenda for collaboration and innovation ahead of UTECH India 2025, which will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, and policy leaders to advance the country’s PU and foam ecosystem.