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.

Cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), a bio-renewable resource found in the honeycomb structure of the cashew nutshell, is considered a byproduct of the cashew industry. Therefore, CNSL is a non-food chain product that would otherwise be disposed of. Cashew trees can grow abundantly in tropical conditions.

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.

Scaling up products from the laboratory to field trials to full production can often be problematic, whether a new polymer is being developed or a formulated finished adhesive is manufactured. If bond failures are occurring during production, the plant may go back to the adhesive supplier and claim the adhesive is at fault.