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HomeArticlesCovestro supplies H.B. Fuller with certified mass-balanced polyurethane raw material

Covestro supplies H.B. Fuller with certified mass-balanced polyurethane raw material

Drop-in solution for reactive hot-melt adhesive
Reduction of CO2 emissions and conservation of fossil raw materials

Covestro and H.B. Fuller have signed an agreement to supply the adhesives manufacturer with mass-balanced renewable raw materials from Covestro. In doing so, both companies aim to become less dependent on fossil raw materials and work toward a more sustainable world. © Getty Images

H.B. Fuller, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial adhesives, is to receive a raw material with an attributed share of renewable feedstock via mass-balance from Covestro, a leading global polymer supplier. The two companies have thus concluded the relevant supply agreement. The mass-balanced polyurethane raw material is ISCC-Plus certified and is to be used in a reactive hot-melt adhesive from H.B. Fuller, where it will replace a proportion of the previous fossil raw materials. It is mainly used in the automotive, wood, composite, and textile industries.

 

“We are excited to supply H.B. Fuller as our first customer for adhesive applications with a mass-balanced product,” says Dr. Thorsten Dreier, Head of the Coatings and Adhesives segment at Covestro. “With the increased use of such alternative raw materials, we want to become less dependent on petrochemical feedstocks and make our contribution to the reduction of CO₂ emissions. Alternative raw materials are part of a comprehensive program to work with our partners to drive the transition to a Circular Economy and ultimately become fully circular ourselves.”

 

“Together with our partner, Covestro, we see this new, strategic product development as an investment in all our futures and a commitment to work towards a more sustainable world”, comments Iñaki Sigler, H.B. Fuller’s Global Product Manager for Woodworking and Composites. “The new adhesive solution represents an evolution of previous sustainable product development and will likely extend into other products and areas of production.” And he concludes, “We believe that any way CO₂ emissions can be reduced should be embraced, no matter how small, because many small steps can add up to a strong economy of scale and a giant leap forward for the adhesives industry.”

 

Both companies want to help their customers make their production more sustainable and position themselves accordingly. Renewable raw materials are used as a basis at the very beginning of the value chain and processed together with fossil ingredients in the same production units. For this purpose, Covestro works with reliable suppliers who are also ISCC-Plus certified. The characteristic of the renewable raw material is then attributed to the final product.

 

H.B. Fuller is able to use this drop-in solution immediately in its existing manufacturing processes without any technical conversion, and no adjustments are required at its customers’ facilities either. The product quality is in no way inferior to its conventional counterparts, but the lower attributed CO₂ footprint makes the products more sustainable.

 

Gradual conversion to alternative raw materials

By gradually converting its production to alternative raw materials, Covestro aims to replace fossil materials and make its value chains more sustainable. Just recently, the company itself received ISCC-Plus certification for the production of renewable aniline at the Antwerp, Belgium, site and of the polyurethane raw material MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate) in Uerdingen, Germany, among other things. ISCC is a globally recognized system for the sustainability certification of biomass and bioenergy.

About Covestro:
With 2020 sales of EUR 10.7 billion, Covestro is among the world’s leading polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative, sustainable solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. In doing so, Covestro is fully committed to the circular economy. The main industries served are the automotive and transportation industries, construction, furniture and wood processing, as well as electrical, electronics, and household appliances industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. At the end of 2020, Covestro has 33 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).

 

Forward-looking statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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