As consumers around the world increasingly focus on ways they can help alleviate climate change, manufacturers (and their suppliers) are exploring myriad options for making their processes and products more sustainable—and thus more attractive to these eco-conscious end users. Suppliers of adhesives and sealants are certainly no exception. Common approaches in our industry include replacing petroleum-based raw materials with bio-based alternatives, improving a product’s recyclability or compostability, and developing solutions to help industries attain climate-related legislative requirements (e.g., lightweight structural adhesives for the automotive sector), among many others.

The term carbon footprint is generally used to identify the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other materials, that an entity produces. We all have a carbon footprint, as individuals, companies, and even the industry as a whole. It is important to keep in mind that carbon is not the enemy, in and of itself. As one of Earth’s most common elements, carbon is fairly ubiquitous in the chemical industry, certainly in organic chemistry. The key is to explore more sustainable options for our carbon use.