FEATURE

By Karen Parker, Editor-in-Chief, ASI

As suppliers to the building and construction industry strive to provide sustainable products, a plywood manufacturer uses lignin-based binder to reduce carbon emissions of its product.

The construction industry is working to increase sustainability efforts and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. According to recent research, the global construction industry and use of built environments account for 39% of global greenhouse emissions. With an increasing population and rising standards of living in developing nations, the pressure to reduce the carbon footprint of the building and construction industry will continue to mount.

Environment-friendly construction incudes things like reducing waste within construction processes, using recycled materials, increasing energy efficiency in built environments and during construction, implementing the use of renewable materials, and the implementation of natural resources in design engineering. Additionally, the use of composite materials in this market is expected to grow, as these materials can offer advantages such as energy savings, flexibility, and reduced weight.

Recent studies forecast growth in the market for green building materials. A market report released by Fortune Business Insights predicts the global green building market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.3% from 2023 to 2030, reaching $951.15 billion by 2030. Growth in the preference for green building materials over traditional construction materials is cited as one reason for this increase in demand.

As consumers are increasingly turning towards eco-friendly products and demanding change, the need for renewable, biobased, and circular solutions is also growing. The adhesive and sealant industry has a part to play as companies work to replace fossil-based materials with safer and more natural alternatives. One such solution is the use of a lignin-based binder in plywood manufacturing.

Case Study

This solution is being implemented by a Polish plywood manufacturer, which has started collaborating with Stora Enso to meet its customers’ demands for biobased and more sustainable plywood. This partnership has also allows the plywood manufacturer to cut its product’s CO₂ emissions.

For nearly 90 years, Polish plywood manufacturer Paged has offered a wide range of plywood products to customers in Europe. Lately, plywood customers, within construction and furniture applications especially, have been asking for more sustainable high-quality plywood. By using Lineo by Stora Enso, Paged can replace fossil-based glue in its products with a biobased one, made from trees. The lignin-based binder reduces the carbon footprint of plywood products all the way from production to final end-use applications. And according to Stora Enso, that is accomplished without compromising on technical performance. For Paged, the use of the lignin-based binder offers the possibility of replacing 40% of fossil-based glue, which results in a more environmentally friendly end-product. The ultimate goal for Paged is to be able to achieve several thousand tons of reduction in carbon emissions.

What Is Lignin?

The second-most abundant natural polymer on earth, lignin is a plant-derived polymer found in the cell walls of almost all dry-land plants. A byproduct of wood pulp and paper production, lignin is often burned for fuel once it has been separated in the production process. One study estimates that lignin accounts for almost 30% of the organic carbon sequestered in the biosphere, and finding uses more sustainable than burning provides many benefits. As scientists have explored other uses for this abundant polymer, they have discovered its suitability for adhesives, especially wood glue. Using lignin for adhesive applications offers a number of advantages. For example, because it is a biomass product, it is not subject to the price fluctuations of the petrochemicals industry. So, using it in binders in wood composites could help to stabilize the cost of building and construction. Additionally, lignin can enhance strength and reduce VOC emissions.

Stora Enso’s lignin-based binder is a renewable, wood-based, non-toxic alternative to fossil-based materials with numerous application possibilities. And for Paged, the product has helped the company achieve sustainability initiatives. Jarosław Michniuk, chief executive officer, Paged, explained, “Sustainability is particularly important in the wood industry. Currently we are working on several initiatives that will contribute to a more sustainable environment starting from the use of more renewable energy in production to products which are fully made from sustainable components. A prime example of this is our partnership with Stora Enso. We strongly believe that with such innovations, we are enhancing our product range and continuing to grow solutions, which positively impact our customers' goals towards carbon neutrality."