Polyurethane foams, are highly demanded in many applications and their use is increasing incessantly. Besides these traditional applications, recently polyurethane foams with different morphologies have been used in environmentally-oriented applications as biofilters for waste air and water treatments, microporous sorption materials, carriers of bio-catalyst (enzyme) in biotechnologies and lightweight packing materials with high surface area for cell attachment and biofilm development, etc. For these applications it is important that polyurethane foams are not toxic, bio-based and capable of decomposing in the environment. Therefore, there is a huge potential for conducting research focused on biodegradation of newly developed bio-foams and their ecotoxicological impacts and thus to make valuable contribution in solving environmental and resource depletion problems of the world. This review gives an overview about environmental degradation of polyurethane foams with special accent to their biodegradation behavior and ecotoxicity. The paper is organized as follows: (1) polyurethane foams are shortly introduced together with their current recycling options, (2) innovative approaches in producing of bio-based and biodegradable polyurethane foams are mentioned, (3) possible ways of environmental degradations of polyurethane foams are present, (4) aspects of polyurethane foam biodegradation are discussed in details and finally (5) ecotoxicity of polyurethane foams is also mentioned.

Pitch-faced concrete is becoming a very popular element of modern architecture in the 21st century. In particular, the demand for concrete facades is increasing globally. On the other hand, climate change, environmental degradation, and limited resources are motivations for sustainable building materials. The construction industry is one the highest emitters of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases, in which concrete plays a major role. Thus, reduction in the volume of concrete consumption is essential to control greenhouse gases. One approach to this problem is to use textile reinforced concrete (TRC). The main aim of the present study was to compare the subtle TRC facade made of three different types of technical textile rovings (glass, carbon, and basalt) with ordinary facades reinforced by steel reinforcement (ORC). The goal was to compare the basic environmental impact potential according to product category rules (PCR) for concrete structures. The functional unit was defined as an experimental facade with an area of 60 m² and a 100-year lifespan. Inventory data were elaborated for concrete, steel, and textile fiber production; the building site; service life; demolition; and final disposal. The main life cycle assessment (LCA) parameters were global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion (ODP), acidification (AP), eutrophication (EP), abiotic depletion (ADP), and photochemical oxidant creation (POCP). All the data used in the work were related to Czech Republic. Textile reinforced concrete facades appeared to be more environmentally friendly in four of six impact categories by an average of 30%. The results of the present study revealed that, in comparison to ORC, TRC has a lower environmental impact for the given conditions and thus good potential for use in sustainable construction.