I always love putting together our annual sustainability issue. It’s inspiring and invigorating to see the industry’s exploration of the broad scope of activities we can engage in to address sustainability. I’m reminded, though, of a restaurant with a voluminous menu. Too many options can sometimes be daunting. How can companies be sure they’re making the right choices?

The definition of “sustainability” is in flux. As it pertains to construction, sustainability is constantly evolving to encompass varying approaches and priorities. In the U.S., sustainable construction is the method of creating buildings and using processes that are environmentally reliable and resource efficient throughout the building’s life cycle, including design, construction, operation, and renovation. Western Europe defines sustainable construction as a way to build that aims to reduce health and environmental impacts affected by the construction process or by buildings.

Old mattresses, insulating material, furniture, and steering wheels—these raw materials are not particularly appealing. But the solvolysis process is enabling Rampf Eco Solutions GmbH & Co. KG to recycle these types of waste materials and create customized polyols for applications ranging from foams to adhesives. 

Adhesives are not typically top of mind to consumers of disposable hygiene products. They are not a large part of the product and can possibly be an afterthought by the article producers themselves. However, it is important to recognize that adhesives have several important tasks in these applications, from sealing and securing the diaper or pad core’s structure to holding elastics firmly in place inside the diaper.

While media headlines over the past 18 months have been largely dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus on environmental impact and climate change has never been far away. More recently, it has come to particular prominence ahead of the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference that will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, as well as the extreme weather conditions experienced by several U.S. states.