BRE IP4/12 PDF

INTRODUCTION

The idea of manufacturing wood adhesives from renewable raw materials has been of interest for several decades (Figure 1). The level of interest and development has depended on demand and economic factors. The oil crisis of the early 1970s prompted interest in bio-adhesives, though this waned as oil prices stabilized. A new demand for bio-derived products, including adhesives, is being driven by the consumer's desire to select ‘greener' products, based on the belief that petroleum-based products are harmful to the environment. There is concern from industry that a range of adhesives products may be removed from the market without suitable replacements. This could undermine confidence in using these adhesives for timber products, which could result in a move towards other products, often with worse overall environmental credentials. These views are compounded by increasingly strict environmental regulations. New product ranges, based on bio-derived resources, would be a major step forward for most industries, but especially for the adhesives industry.