Reducing CO2 emissions with no compromise on quality
Mass timber construction, based on wood from sustainably managed forests, is one of the ways for the building industry to improve its overall environmental footprint. It avoids the higher level of CO2 emissions associated with high-energy-consuming production of conventional cement, bricks and steel without compromising strength, safety or durability.
Timber construction relies on Henkel Engineered Wood adhesives to transform wood into enduring panels, beams and other building materials with superior performance and properties.
As the leading supplier of formaldehyde-free adhesives for the mass timber industry, Henkel is paving the way for further reduction of CO2 emissions across the entire value chain. Our latest product innovations aim to shift from fossil-based formulations to those made with bio-based materials. They help to improve the environmental footprint while adding value to mass timber end products.
Two of Henkel's best-selling polyurethane (PUR) mass timber structural adhesives are available as bio-based formulations, namely LOCTITE HB S ECO and LOCTITE CR821 ECO. The ECO versions reduce CO2 emissions associated with mass timber bonding by over 60%, based on cradle-to-gate1 life cycle assessments2.
LOCTITE HB S ECO polyurethane (PUR) adhesives belong to the LOCTITE HB product family with over 30 years' history in timber construction.
63% of the organic mass3 of LOCTITE HB S ECO adhesive is made with ISCC PLUS certified materials via the mass balance approach using bio-circular feedstock.
These new products achieve a 66% CO2eq emissions reduction compared to the fossil-based version as confirmed by a cradle-to-gate1 life cycle assessment2.
LOCTITE CR821 ECO is a next-generation, two-component4 formaldehyde-free polyurethane (PUR) resin that enables invisible connections of wooden construction elements, combining strength, sustainability and aesthetics.
It provides the high-performance sustainable solution for bonding of hybrid connecting elements in timber construction. LOCTITE CR821 ECO is more robust and easier to handle than conventional technologies used in this application.
Certified in Europe for bonding steel rods with various diameters, LOCTITE CR821 ECO also possesses good flow properties, making it extremely versatile.
LOCTITE CR821 ECO is manufactured with 71% bio-based material (by weight of the organic mass).
- Part A is attributed to direct bio-based materials5
- Part B is linked to 60% ISCC PLUS certified material via the mass balance approach using bio-circular feedstock.
- LOCTITE CR821 ECO achieves 62% CO2eq emissions reduction compared to a fossil-based version as confirmed by a cradle-to-gate1 life cycle assessment2.
- Solvent-free
- Low waste due to precise dosing
- Cold pressing to ensure energy saving
- Compliance with the most stringent indoor air quality standards
1Cradle-to-gate: the impact of a product from the moment it's produced to the moment it is shipped to customers. It includes raw materials, packaging, production and transportation
2Internal LCA is conducted by Henkel
3Organic materials excluding all inorganic fillers
4Mix weight ratio of part A and part B is 2.24 to 1
5Information from suppliers
"De-fossilisation" means shifting to renewable and circular carbon sources, away from fossil-based carbon resources which contribute to harmful greenhouse gas emissions when processed or burnt.
Renewable carbon is sourced from biological materials that can be replenished or regenerated relatively quickly. This includes plant-based biomass, crops, agricultural waste, recycled materials (bio-circular feedstock) and other organic materials.
The mass balance approach (MBA) is a process for determining the use of chemically recycled or bio-based feedstock in a final product when both recycled and virgin feedstock, or bio-based and fossil feedstock, have been used in the process.
To make claims regarding mass-balanced content, external certification is needed.
Further details are explained in this video.
ISCC PLUS is a global sustainability certification system. The focus of the system is on establishing traceability in global supply chains and verifying implementation of sustainability criteria, allowing credible and justified claims. For further details, please visit their official website.
Bio-based materials are intuitively considered as low CO2eq-emission raw materials. To be distinguished from mass-balanced renewable materials, they are usually called direct bio-based materials. Direct bio-based materials are made with renewable resources, such as plants or algae, and the level of renewable resources in these materials can vary, ranging from 100% to partial inclusion.
LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is a scientific, quantitative method to calculate the environmental impacts of a set of impact categories for a product along its value chain.
Yes, Henkel is a member of the Renewable Carbon Initiative. For further information, please visit their official website.