The purpose of research is to anticipate change. In an unstable geopolitical context where access to energy and chemical raw materials is increasingly threatened by conflicts and strategic dependencies, investing in non-oil alternatives is not only an environmental, but also an industrial and political decision. It is from this consideration that a group of researchers from the University of Pisa led by Professor Maurizia Seggiani—after careful study—discovered that used cooking oil can be used to create polyurethane foams, phase-change materials, and biolubricants capable of replacing fossil-based products for the automotive and construction sectors. The research results were published in the scientific journals Materials Today Sustainability, Scientific Reports, and Chemical Engineering Journal. The invention revolves upon the replacement of fossil-based components with sustainable alternatives such as discarded cooking oil. Researchers turned spent oil into polyol, a major component of polyurethane foams, phase-change materials capable of absorbing, storing, and releasing heat, so managing temperature, and biolubricants for industrial hydraulic systems. The resulting polyurethane foams can be used to attenuate vibrations and control interior temperatures in automobiles. In the construction industry, multifunctional foams can be injected into building walls and cavities to increase thermal and acoustic insulation, hence increasing energy efficiency and decreasing consumption. "Reusing a local waste product, like used oil", the researchers write, "represents one possible strategy, among others, to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Transforming it into high-value materials entails increasing technical autonomy, diversifying sources, and developing more robust production models capable of meeting global problems in the coming years".