Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword in manufacturing—it has become a mainstay in nearly every industry, including adhesives and sealants. In addition to reduced emissions and landfill waste, “green” products also reduce the chance of exposing workers to dangerous toxins.

After years of modest growth in the adoption of green/sustainability programs, major corporations, along with their suppliers and logistics partners, have committed to sustainability and social responsibility goals.

To achieve the desired level of release, humidity resistance, hydrophobicity and other properties, most release coatings today are based on silicone and/or fluorochemical technologies. Fluorochemicals provide hydrophobicity, an important release coating feature that drives performance.

Chemique Adhesives recently announced that the 30-kW solar installation on the roof of its North American headquarters in Kennesaw, Ga., has begun operation. The solar power addition is part of the company’s corporate commitment to sustainability.

Adhesive coating is an important and necessary step in pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) construction. It’s also one of the least-discussed aspects of the PSA manufacturing process and, as of late, is becoming one of the most environmentally sustainable.

What effects do you think the Trump administration will have in the future for supplies and/or suppliers of raw materials/chemicals?

As part of a much-needed educational expansion for the Davis School District in Farmington, Utah, two new schools were recently commissioned to better serve the local student body, including Odyssey Elementary School. Designed by VCBO Architecture, plans for the new school called for 84,785-sq-ft of total environmentally conscious construction.

A definition of “bio-based” is a good starting point for this discussion. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines bio-based products as those derived from plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials. Standardized tests have been developed (ASTM D 6866) to quantify the bio-based content of a product or a raw material.

Recycling of laminated packaging has been a long-standing challenge for the packaging industry.