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Bio-Based Adhesives: Formulation, Performance & Compliance Strategies for Modern Applications

Bio-Based Adhesives: Formulation, Performance & Compliance Strategies for Modern Applications
Language: English
Length: 90 min
Oct 01, 2025 03:00 PM
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Course Description

As sustainability mandates and consumer expectations rapidly reshape the adhesives industry, formulators face a growing challenge: how to replace petroleum-based systems with bio-based alternatives, without sacrificing performance, scalability, or compliance. Stricter VOC limits, bans on formaldehyde, and pressures from the EU Green Deal and global climate targets have made it clear, switching to bio-based adhesives is no longer optional; it's urgent.
This course equips you with the essential formulation strategies, processing techniques, and regulatory insights needed to confidently transition to bio-based adhesive systems. Through real-world case studies and practical benchmarks, you’ll learn how to close performance gaps, manage variability in raw materials, and ensure your products meet the latest environmental and market demands.

Intermediate
Level
Steve Block
Steve Block
Biochem Resources, LLC
0 courses

Steve has been involved in the specialty chemicals industry for over 40 years. His passion is solving problems by identifying opportunities for new biobased chemical technologies leveraging his technical and commercial expertise by providing consultation for companies in their journey towards a more sustainable future to decarbonize the chemical industry. During his career Steve has had the opportunity to lead both technical and commercial teams focused on innovative technical solutions and more recently centered around biobased chemical technologies.

Over the past 15 years Steve has been involved in the biobased chemistry industry, having held commercial leadership roles at several start-up companies bringing biobased materials to the market. He frequently presents at major conferences including The Adhesives & Sealants Council Annual Conference, Forest Products Society, American Coatings Show (where he won the best paper in 2022), American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Conference, Society for Cosmetic Chemists, Australian Coatings Association (where he was awarded the best presentation), and Abrafati (Brazil).

Steve received a BS in Chemical Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, where he is a member of the Academy of Chemical Engineers, and an MS in Engineering Management from Wichita State University.

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Why should you view this course?

Whether you're formulating, scaling, or managing the sustainability roadmap of adhesive products, this course gives you a solid foundation to innovate responsibly and competitively. You’ll walk away with realistic, actionable knowledge, grounded in science, application know-how, and business strategy.

  1. Master Formulation Challenges: Learn how to overcome performance, adhesion, and processing challenges unique to bio-based adhesives.

  2. Stay Ahead of Regulations: Understand evolving VOC, formaldehyde, and certification requirements, and how to stay compliant.

  3. Apply Real-World Insights: Gain practical takeaways from case studies in packaging, construction, and consumer products.

Who should join this course?
    • Adhesive Formulators & R&D Scientists: Looking to reformulate or innovate with bio-based raw materials while maintaining product performance and process compatibility.
    • Product Development & Application Engineers: Tasked with integrating bio-based adhesives into real-world applications across packaging, construction, or consumer products.
    • Sustainability & Regulatory Managers: Responsible for ensuring products meet VOC and environmental compliance, and for leading greener initiatives internally or for clients.
    • Technical Sales & Marketing Teams: Aiming to build a stronger technical understanding of the bio-based adhesives landscape to better support customer conversations and claims.

    Whether you're at the start of your sustainability journey or already working with hybrid systems, this course will provide practical insights to accelerate your path forward.

  • Complete the course and (unlock your personalized certificate)– your badge of accomplishment awaits!

  • This course is suitable for intermediate level proficiency
    Intermediate
Questions you will be able to answer after this course:

  1. How do bio-based adhesives compare to petroleum-based ones in terms of performance and cost?

  2. What feedstocks are commonly used, and how do I manage raw material variability?

  3. What certifications and documentation are required to meet regulatory demands?

  4. How can I reformulate existing products without changing equipment or compromising quality?

  5. Which substrates are most compatible with bio-based adhesives, and how can I boost adhesion strength?

  6. What are the most common pitfalls in real-world reformulations and how can I avoid them?

Course Outline
The following sections will be covered during this session:
  • Introduction: Why Bio-Based Adhesives Matter Now
  1. Growing consumer demand for sustainable, non-toxic solutions
  2. Regulatory pressures: VOC limits, formaldehyde bans, EU Green Deal
  3. Why this is a critical moment for formulators and manufacturers

🌟 Outcome: Understand the regulatory, consumer, and business urgency around switching to bio-based adhesives

  • Measuring Green
  1. Environmental impact
  2. Product life cycle approach
  3. Commonly used tools

🌟 Outcome: Understand techniques used to measure and communicate sustainability

  • Performance vs. Petroleum-Based Adhesives
  1. Benchmarking adhesion strength, durability, and resistance
  2. Trade-offs and myths: When performance suffers and when it doesn’t
  3. Hybrid strategies to bridge gaps

🌟 Outcome: Learn how to realistically compare and close performance gaps

  • Raw Material Selection & Consistency
  1. Overview of feedstocks: starches, lignin, plant oils, tannins, proteins
  2. Key criteria for material selection (functionality, availability, purity)
  3. Dealing with batch variability and seasonal supply

🌟 Outcome: Confidently assess and select raw materials with an eye on scale and quality

  • Processing & Application Challenges
  1. Mixing, curing, coating: equipment and handling tips
  2. Adjusting viscosity, tack, and open time for different systems
  3. Shelf life considerations
  4. What to watch for when reformulating from synthetic to bio-based

🌟Outcome: Learn how to adapt existing processes for bio-based adhesive systems

  • Regulatory & Certification Landscape
  1. VOC limits, formaldehyde restrictions, REACH, EPA regulations
  2. Certifications: USDA BioPreferred, EN 13432, EU Ecolabel, DIN CERTCO
  3. Documentation and claim substantiation

🌟 Outcome: Understand compliance pathways and how to prepare products for certification

  • Cost vs. Market Viability
  1. Cost comparison with petro-based adhesives
  2. Strategies to offset cost through hybrid formulations, value-add claims
  3. How consumer-driven brands are justifying pricing

🌟 Outcome: Navigate price-performance pressure and justify product positioning

  • Adhesion & Substrate Compatibility
  1. What substrates work best: paper, wood, plastic, metal
  2. How to enhance bonding for different end-uses
  3. Impact of surface energy, coating, and conditioning

🌟 Outcome: Formulate with substrate in mind and improve adhesion where it matters most

  • Case Studies: Real-World Applications
  1. Packaging: Replacing hot melt adhesives in paper packaging
  2. Building & Construction: Panel lamination, insulation, wood composites
  3. Consumer Products: Pressure-sensitive systems in labels and tapes
  4. Successes, failures, and learnings from real reformulation projects

🌟 Outcome: Learn from practical examples to avoid pitfalls and apply proven strategies

  • Wrap-Up & Key Takeaways
  1. Summary of practical strategies
  2. How to move forward: what to test, who to talk to, where to source
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Prerequisites for this course

This course is ideal for professionals who have:

  • A basic understanding of adhesive formulation and application processes
  • Familiarity with standard synthetic raw materials and general product development workflow
  • No prior knowledge of bio-based adhesives is required; this course builds the foundation from real-world examples
30 min Q & As for this course
Interact directly with your tutor and clarify your doubts
  1. 30 mins per session for Questions and Answers
  2. Clarify your doubts.
  3. If your questions are not answered, dont worry you will recieve tutor’s reply via email after sessions.
Bio-Based Adhesives: Formulation, Performance & Compliance Strategies for Modern Applications
€299
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