ISOPA - The Association of diisocyanates & polyols producers

Name

ISOPA - The Association of diisocyanates & polyols producers

Legal name

ISOPA AISBL

Website

https://isopa.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical Industry Trade Association

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

akta.pro primary industry

EMS Training & Competency Development (EUAHAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Certification Support (Stage 1/2) & External Audit сопровождение (EUAHAIAF)

Keywords

• Chemical industry association
• Polyurethane raw materials
• Diisocyanate safety training
• REACH regulatory compliance
• Product stewardship services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ISOPA is funded through membership dues from diisocyanate and polyol manufacturers operating in Europe. The association represents major chemical companies including BASF, Covestro, Dow, Shell, and Huntsman.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ISOPA is a European trade association that represents manufacturers of aromatic diisocyanates (MDI and TDI) and polyols used to make polyurethanes. It provides regulatory advocacy on EU chemicals policy (REACH, OEL, Green Deal), mandatory REACH safety training via the SafeUseDiisocyanates.eu e-learning platform, eco-profile life cycle data, logistics and emergency response guidelines, position papers, and socio-economic data for the polyurethane industry. Activities are delivered to and funded by its member companies.

Product overview

ISOPA is a European trade association representing manufacturers of aromatic diisocyanates (MDI and TDI) and polyols, which are the main raw materials for polyurethanes. ISOPA's core offerings include the Safe Use of Diisocyanates Training Platform (safeusediisocyanates.eu) for mandatory REACH compliance training, Eco-Profiles for environmental impact assessments, comprehensive Logistics Guidelines for safe transport, Emergency Response Manuals, Safety Information and Exposure Scenarios, and Position Papers on regulatory policy. The association focuses on product stewardship, EU regulatory compliance (REACH, OEL), and sustainability initiatives including circular economy and climate neutrality commitments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safe Use of Diisocyanates: A digital training platform for workers on the safe handling of diisocyanates, launched in collaboration with ALIPA in November 2021
• SafeUseDiisocyanates.eu

Products and services

• Safe Use of Diisocyanates Training Platform (safeusediisocyanates.eu) Digital e-learning platform providing online courses (Basic, Intermediate and Advanced levels) on the safe handling of diisocyanates, available in 26 languages with over 600,000 registered users as of October 2023. Developed by ISOPA and ALIPA to ensure compliance with the EU REACH restriction on diisocyanates effective 24 August 2023.
• Eco-Profiles for MDI and TDI Life Cycle Inventory and Eco-profile data for MDI (Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate) and TDI (Toluene Diisocyanate), including ISO-compliant eco-profiles using stoichiometric and economic allocation methods. ISOPA published its first Life Cycle Inventory in 1996 and continues to update industry average datasets for environmental impact assessment.
• Logistics Guidelines for TDI and MDI Comprehensive guidelines (edition 5.1) for the safe loading/unloading, transportation and storage of TDI and MDI, covering emergency response, driver training, and discharge and storage assessment.
• Emergency Response Manual for Transport of TDI and MDI Emergency response guidelines for the transport of TDI and MDI, providing critical safety information for incidents involving diisocyanates for use by carriers, emergency services and logistics operators.
• Safety Information and Exposure Scenarios Safety information package including Draft Exposure Scenarios (ES) for MDI and TDI, PNECs and DNELs, and safety summary documents to ensure proper handling and risk management for industrial users of diisocyanates and polyols.
• Position Papers on Chemical Regulation and Sustainability Policy positions and statements on REACH regulation, occupational exposure limits for diisocyanates, circular economy, ecodesign for sustainable products, and other EU policy matters affecting the diisocyanates and polyurethanes industry.
• Socio-Economic Data and PU Industry Information Studies and reports on the socio-economic contribution of the polyurethane industry to growth and jobs in Europe, including the 2024 version documenting over 363,500 direct jobs in the EU polyurethane value chain.
• Driver Training Platform for Diisocyanates Transporters Platform to train drivers for the safe transportation of diisocyanates in Europe, containing updated training material with new slides and videos, digitalized registrations, and automated certification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600,000 workers trained on safe diisocyanate handling through digital platform
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• ALIPAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2023ALIPA (Aliphatic Diisocyanates Producers Association) is ISOPA's primary strategic partner for industry advocacy and training development. Together they developed the digital training platform www.safeusediisocyanates.eu for mandatory REACH training on diisocyanate safety. Both associations share the Secretary General Jörg Palmersheim and collaborate on EU regulatory engagement including OEL proposals.
• TÜV RheinlandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 February 2023TÜV Rheinland partnered with ISOPA/ALIPA to provide diisocyanate safety training through their myCompetence platform. TÜV Rheinland also offers certification courses for safety experts who wish to conduct training on diisocyanates within their companies. Training courses include hybrid formats with 3.5 days of instruction and certification exams.
• secovasecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 January 2023secova, a German EHS software company, integrated ISOPA/ALIPA's diisocyanate safety training materials into their sam® software platform. This partnership enables secova's customers to access compliance training directly through their existing EHS management systems.
• Berner GroupsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 2021Berner Group entered a license agreement with ISOPA/ALIPA for the SafeUseDiisocyanates.eu training platform, expanding the reach of diisocyanate safety training through their distribution network.
• International Isocyanates Institute (III)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Isocyanates Institute works with ISOPA on providing information and expert advice about the health and safety profile of diisocyanates and polyols based on research and data.
• Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPI is a key partner in the Global Diisocyanate and Polyurethane Working Group, participating in international collaboration on regulatory matters, sustainability, and product stewardship.
• Japan Urethane Industries Institute (JUII)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJUII participates in the Global Diisocyanate and Polyurethane Working Group for international regulatory cooperation and industry updates.
• China Polyurethane Industry Association (CPUIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPUIA collaborates with ISOPA through the Global Diisocyanate and Polyurethane Working Group on regional updates and regulatory insights.
• Korea Polyurethane Industry Association (KPUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPUA participates in international working group meetings hosted by ISOPA for global polyurethane industry coordination.
• Asian Polyurethane Business Association (APBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPBA collaborates with ISOPA on industry events and conferences, including the PU WEEK in Malaysia and Annual Conference presentations on diisocyanate safety.
• Indian Polyurethane Association (IPUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPUA participates in the Global Diisocyanate and Polyurethane Working Group for regulatory and sustainability cooperation.
• European Downstream AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor European downstream polyurethane industry associations collaborate with ISOPA/ALIPA on digital training platform development and launch (November 2021) and downstream user representation in regulatory matters.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI): North American trade association representing polyurethane chemistry and a member of the Global Diisocyanate and Polyurethane Working Group alongside ISOPA. Closely comparable in mission (product stewardship, regulatory advocacy, training) and serves as ISOPA's transatlantic counterpart.
• ALIPA (Aliphatic Diisocyanates Producers Association): Sister European trade association for aliphatic diisocyanate producers. Shares the Secretary General with ISOPA and co-developed the safeusediisocyanates.eu training platform — making it the most directly comparable peer organization.

Broad incumbents

• Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council): Brussels-based umbrella trade association representing the broader European chemical industry. Comparable as a peer regulatory advocate but covers the entire chemicals value chain rather than specializing in diisocyanates and polyols.
• American Chemistry Council (ACC): Largest US chemical industry trade association, with regulatory advocacy and product stewardship functions structurally similar to ISOPA's. Operates at a much broader category scope but functions as ISOPA's US counterpart in industry advocacy.
• PlasticsEurope: European trade association for plastics manufacturers, also headquartered in Brussels. Comparable in advocacy and sustainability positioning but covers the full plastics value chain rather than focusing on polyurethane raw materials.

Regional players

• Chemical Industries Association (CIA): UK trade association for chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Functions as a comparable industry-voice organization for UK-based chemical producers, though geographically separate from ISOPA's EU-focused remit.
• China Polyurethane Industry Association (CPUIA): China's polyurethane industry association and a working-group partner with ISOPA. Functionally analogous as a polyurethane-specific industry body, but operates in the Chinese regulatory environment.
• Verband der Chemischen Industrie (VCI): German chemical industry association representing chemical manufacturers including ISOPA's German members. Comparable in trade association function and regulatory engagement but serves the German national market rather than the EU as a whole.
• Japan Urethane Industries Institute (JUII): Japan-based polyurethane industry association that participates in ISOPA's Global Diisocyanate and Polyurethane Working Group. Directly comparable in mission and structure but serves the Japanese market rather than Europe.

Others

• SOCMA (Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates): US-based trade association for specialty chemical manufacturers, including segments adjacent to polyurethane chemistry. Comparable as a chemical-industry advocacy body, though focused on US specialty manufacturers rather than European commodity isocyanate producers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/polyurethanes4U
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PolyurethanesMedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isopa
• Instagraminstagram.com/safeusediisocyanates
• Pinterestpinterest.com/ISOPA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ISOPA - The Association of diisocyanates & polyols producers