‘Are the raw materials you’re using sustainable? Does your company have a sustainable production plan? How sustainable are your solutions?’

According to the Global Sustainability Study 2021, sustainability has been rated as an important purchase criterion for approximately 60% of consumers worldwide. Aligned with the frequently asked questions above, consumers are not just concerned with the green aspect of the end product. They are increasingly invested in seeking out the sustainable aspects of production methods, urging manufacturers to become more conscious of the carbon footprint generated from production processes, and giving rise to the need for more sustainable manufacturing.

The role of adhesives in sustainable manufacturing

While the more apparent environmentally-friendly efforts include replacing plastics with biodegradable alternatives such as paper, many don’t realise that adhesives – despite how they usually represent only a fraction of the objects they contribute to – can play a huge role in sustainable manufacturing.

For us at Bostik, we believe that adhesives are linchpins for the objects all around us. The #AdhesivesAroundYou enable objects to last longer, better insulate, reduce size and weight, promote fixing instead of replacing, and make recycling much easier. We know that adhesives can drastically reduce the environmental impact of many industries, playing an essential role in building a more sustainable world.

Paving your sustainability journey – #StickingtoSustainability

Many have the misconception that driving sustainability necessitates huge investments or revamping business plans entirely. But, going green can start with taking relatively smaller, active steps.

Firstly, review the ingredient list for your products and evaluate their impact throughout the entire supply chain. Ask yourself, is this a bio-based ingredient that aids in better waste management for the product? If not, how can I substitute it for alternatives reduce waste generation and enable recyclability?  

Communicating the right product information to your internal team is also key in ensuring that you drive ‘real’ sustainability. With the pressure to make eco-friendly claims in today’s sustainability-driven world, terms such as ‘biodegradable’ and ‘plastic-free’ can be easily misused. For example, products with the ‘plastic-free’ label can still contain environmentally damaging adhesives that affect your efforts. To steer clear of such instances, be sure that your sales and customer service teams are aligned with accurate information, and educated on what they mean and the impact they make.

Another step you can take is to choose product ingredients that are verified by sustainable associations. At Bostik, we have taken an active role in ensuring that our solutions are verified by such associations, including RecyClass, CEFLEX, Sustainable Packaging Coalition, and China Plastics Reuse and Recycling Association.

Take for instance, Bostik SF10M, a laminating adhesive that has been thoroughly tested and approved by RecyClass – a platform which gathers members with recyclability at the core of their strategy for plastic packaging. It can pass through the entire PE film recycling process without depleting the recyclate's quality, promoting more efficient waste management and reusability.

As #SustainabilityEnablers, Bostik has kept sustainability at the core of our smart adhesive solutions. We are naturally attached to sustainability, recycling, and collaborative innovation to help build a circular economy. Do follow our blog closely for more useful content coming your way!

For more information, please visit us at: www.bostik.com