Biodegradable Adhesives: Guide and Benefits
Whether a company wants to reduce their carbon footprint or just find a more sustainable source of adhesive components, biodegradable adhesives and oleochemical ingredients have risen as a safe and eco-friendly alternative to petrochemical-based adhesives.
Industries searching for workplace safe, sustainable options use biodegradable adhesives for hot-melt, pressure sensitive, and heat-seal applications across a variety of industries.
CREMER North America is a world-class supplier of oleochemical products and solutions that carries a variety of biodegradable adhesive ingredients. Contact our sales team to learn more.
What are eco-friendly adhesives?
Eco-friendly adhesives are industrial-strength adhesive products made from biodegradable chemicals that come from renewable, plant or animal-based sources. These products can be used by industries for packaging, construction, and other uses that require robust adhesion and low emission of harmful chemicals like VOCs.
Oleochemical vs. Petrochemical
Oleochemicals are derived from renewable, sustainable plant or animal-based sources. These chemicals are largely non-toxic, don’t emit harmful chemicals into the air, can withstand high heat, and biodegrade much faster than their oil-and-gas-derived counterparts.
Petrochemicals are produced through the refining and processing of crude oil, a non-renewable resource that is increasingly expensive to access and dangerous to process. Petrochemicals can off-gas high levels of toxic fumes and may be a fire hazard in storage.
Benefits of biodegradable adhesives
Environmentally friendly adhesives have come a long way in recent years and are comparable in strength and longevity as their petrochemical cousins under the right conditions. And the benefits continue. Bio-based adhesives are:
- No micro-plastics: As they do not contain petrochemical-derived plastics, biodegradable adhesives do not contribute to water and soil pollution.
- Non-toxic: They do not emit VOCs, making them safer for workplace environments.
- Withstand high heat: The high flash point of these chemicals makes them ideal for high-heat and fire-hazard uses.
- Biodegradable: These adhesives break down more readily than petrochemical-based adhesives.
- Sustainable sources: Derived from plant and other biological sources, eco-safe adhesives boast a stable price point.
Industrial adhesive applications
Depending on the type of adhesive and the ingredients used, biodegradable adhesives may break down when exposed to UV light, heat, or moisture. Therefore, it’s important to consider the use case. Each of these industries currently benefits from the eco-friendly nature of oleochemical-based adhesives.
Paper & Packaging
The paper and packaging industry benefits from oleochemical adhesives as they boost sustainability and recyclability of their products and may make their products compostable. Because biodegradable adhesives also have high flash points, they store safely alongside paper and paper products.
Oil & Gas
In addition to helping the oil and gas industry reduce their carbon footprint, oleochemicals provide low flash points for high-performance adhesives. This lowers the risk of fire from normal use and increases the safety of a traditionally hazardous workplace.
Automotive
The automotive industry has responded to industry moves toward green alternatives, especially with the growth of electric and low-emission vehicles. Depending on the application, biodegradable adhesives provide high adhesion and durability with less chemical off-gassing.
Natural alternatives to industrial needs
As businesses and consumers continue to turn toward biodegradable, sustainable, and eco-friendly options, oleochemical products provide natural alternatives. Improvements in formulations and increased supply have made these alternatives commonplace.
CREMER North America supplies oleochemical ingredients including glycerols, esters, and resins for use in biodegradable adhesives and a variety of other industrial products and provides world-class logistic solutions for oleochemical transport. Contact us to find your next oleochemical solution.
About the Company:
CREMER North America is your regional oleochemical supplier with a global reach. Our global network grants you access to oleochemical supplies, contract manufacturing, and end-to-end solutions that help you improve your outcomes and reduce manufacturing costs. CREMER has three North American facilities for oleochemical supply and manufacturing services accessible throughout the United States and beyond.
Contact:
Laura Mann, Marketing & Communications Specialist | 1-513-557-4235 | lmann@cremerna.com