Before 2020, I always thought it would be fascinating to live through a truly “historic” time. The massive losses of the past year—both human and economic—have cured me of that naïve perspective. However, the continued upheaval has also shown how resilient, supportive, and innovative we can be in the face of multiple crises.
Though many of our businesses have been considered essential since the beginning of the pandemic, the adhesive and sealant industry has certainly not been immune to COVID-19. A sampling of the challenges we’ve encountered includes: multiple shutdowns, occurring at different times and to varying degrees around the world while also impacting demand differently according to end-use markets; wide-reaching production changes to help meet urgent healthcare-related needs; the adoption of remote, home-based offices for much of the workforce; and supply chain-related issues, depending on the material involved and the region of origin. To help us put the various concerns related to raw materials and chemicals in perspective, I asked key players in the industry for their viewpoints.