Page 60 - CFA_SG25

ADHESIVES AND ACCESSORIES MANUFACTURERS’ VIEW

A pathway to sustainability sustainable products. ‘Reversible’ adhesives
For example, flooring contractors might Adhesives are designed to form strong bonds
Yuliya Nam-Wright, Head of Sustainability select adhesives with EPDs indicating low between floor coverings and subfloors,
at Bostik UK, describes how in an era where VOC emissions and high recyclability to align making it difficult to separate these layers at
sustainability is no longer optional but with client sustainability goals. the end of a product’s lifecycle. Traditional
essential, industries are under increasing By providing critical, standardised insights adhesives often leave residues on both
pressure to innovate and collaborate in ways into a product’s environmental impact, EPDs surfaces, contaminating the flooring material
that drive meaningful environmental change. empower the flooring industry to make and rendering it unsuitable for recycling.
The flooring industry, with its unique data-driven decisions, foster innovation, and Removing adhesive contamination
60 challenges and opportunities, is perfectly accelerate the transition toward sustainability. requires additional processing steps, such
poised to lead the way through collective as mechanical scraping, chemical treatment,
action. Collaboration in this sector is not just or thermal cleaning. This can increase the
about sharing best practices but involves
creating systems and frameworks that address cost and energy use of recycling and limits
sustainability holistically - from production to the economic viability of recycling flooring
installation, and eventually, to disposal. materials on a large scale.
Below, we explore some critical areas ‘Reversible’ adhesives aim to be a
where industry collaboration could transform promising solution, allowing for easier removal
sustainability efforts in the flooring industry. of floor coverings at the end of life without
damaging the materials. They promote easy
Promoting transparency installation and removal of floorcoverings such
Transparency is particularly critical in as vinyl and LVT flooring with no residue, even
demonstrating compliance with green years later, allowing the flooring to be recycled
building standards like LEED or BREEAM. at the end of its life. Once removed, the goal
Publishing verified environmental data, is that reversible adhesives leave behind a
such as Environmental Product Declarations subfloor that requires next to no preparation,
(EPDs) fosters trust between manufacturers, Embracing innovation meaning renovation times and carbon
customers, and regulatory bodies. Packaging plays a critical role in the flooring footprint is significantly reduced.
EPDs provide manufacturers with insights industry, not just for protecting products
into their products’ environmental hotspots, during transportation but also in determining A collaborative effort
enabling targeted efforts to reduce emissions, the overall environmental footprint. Over the Sustainability in flooring is a challenge that
waste, or resource consumption. past decade, the industry has made strides no single company can tackle alone. The
For example, an EPD might reveal that a to innovate and reduce packaging waste, industry has a long history of developing
flooring adhesive has a significant carbon aligning with sustainability goals. installation standards through collaborative
footprint due to its chemical formulation, Adhesive buckets are now often made efforts. There’s no reason why this existing
prompting innovation toward bio-based with PCR plastics, reducing reliance on virgin model can’t be extended to sustainability
alternatives. materials, while many smoothing compounds by incorporating guidelines for sustainable
EPDs also include data on recyclability and are being introduced as one-part products in
end-of-life disposal options, helping to identify favour of ‘bag and bottle’. installation practices, backed-up by training
products that align with circular economy The striving towards sustainability programmes to educate installers about the
principles. goes beyond packaging, with companies importance of proper product selection and
They ensure that stakeholders in the also developing low-carbon adhesives material handling.
flooring industry can prioritise materials and and smoothing compounds that reduce By aligning goals, pooling resources, and
products designed for reuse or recycling, environmental impact while maintaining embracing innovation, stakeholders across
reducing waste and conserving resources. performance. These products use alternative resources and the supply chain can ensure
With EPDs, consumers and specifiers can binders, bio-based polymers, and lightweight that flooring not only improves the aesthetic
make choices based on verified environmental formulations to minimise carbon emissions appeal of spaces, but also supports a
performance, creating demand for more during production and installation. healthier, more sustainable world.

CFA Guide to Sustainability 2025/26