>> Karen Parker, editor-in-chief

Summertime is global top 20 time 

It is the middle of June, and in my neighborhood summer is kicking into high gear. The playground of the elementary school down the road is quiet and the lawn mowers are taking up the slack noise-wise; the local groundhog has begun its daily trips to my yard to eat the arugula and spinach that was not planted for him; and everyone is preparing to get out of the house and go someplace new for a little down time.

For the years I have worked in B2B publishing, the beginning of summer always means wrapping up an article about top manufacturers of the industry I cover. Following tradition, this edition of ASI includes the annual ASI Top 20, a listing of the top global adhesives and sealants manufacturers based on their 2022 sales information. For 2023, we are dedicating the entire issue to these manufacturers. Included are the Top 20 article and our Voices from the Top interviews with representatives of selected Top 20 companies. Within these articles you can learn about the leading adhesives and sealants manufacturers, their brands, their sales, their business structures, and the direction leaders hope to take them.

This year, I noticed many companies followed the same path in terms of sales. The first, second, and third quarters went well; the fourth quarter, not so much. For many, demand softened as the year progressed. Companies also faced inflationary issues in 2022 due to rising raw material costs. Most compensated for that with price increases and cost reduction measures. Challenges mentioned in 2022 annual reports include: the war in Ukraine, continued supply chain issues (some pandemic related, some caused by unique weather events, and some caused by geo-political factors), softening demand, and the ongoing effects of COVID-19, especially in China.

The other trend – which will surprise absolutely no one reading this editorial – is that of sustainability. As I am relatively new to this industry, I do not have the experience to draw conclusions about the history of these discussions in the adhesives and sealants space. I do, however, have some experience covering raw material suppliers to the coatings industry. And I can say that about five years ago there was a significant uptick in press statements and actions of these companies surrounding carbon emission goals and other sustainability initiatives. This past year, each of the conferences I attended had entire tracks, or summits, or even entire events dedicated to sustainability. As you read our Voices from the Top interviews, I think you will see that many companies see sustainability as a key focus of their business going forward.

Why? I wish I had the definitive answer, but I can offer a few guesses. One would be demand – many consumers, especially younger consumers, are expressing more and more interest in the impact their purchasing decisions have on the environment. Another would be regulations – governmental bodies such as the European Union are enacting stringent environmental regulations, and companies that want to do business in those regions must respond. Finally, financial regulations – increasingly, companies must ensure that claims regarding sustainability are backed up with data. For these reasons I believe sustainability will continue to be a top initiative for the adhesives industry.

I hope you enjoy reading about the top companies in your industry. If you would like your company to be considered for the 2024 ASI Top 20, please send an email to parkerk@bnpmedia.com.