Construction + Civil Engineering

The construction industry is facing a challenging pivot towards sustainable practices and lower CO₂ emissions. Mass timber, also known as wood construction, with its ecological advantages, is an important driver in achieving these goals. Henkel Engineered Wood has initiated a transformation in the industry by shifting from fossil-based to bio-based formulations for its adhesives.

Developed with bio-based materials, Henkel states the new Loctite engineered wood adhesives, HB S ECO and CR 821 ECO, reduce CO₂eq emissions by more than 60% compared to fossil-based alternatives. Both ECO variants are already available, offering a sustainable alternative for load-bearing timber construction.

"With Loctite HB S ECO and Loctite CR 821 ECO, we are launching two of our best-selling certified polyurethane (PUR) adhesives as bio-based variants. The solutions offer an excellent standard of performance. Our first bio-based PUR adhesives deliver the high levels of safety, durability, productivity and reliability our customers expect from Henkel adhesives," says Dr. Christian Fild, global director engineered wood at Henkel. "For both our direct customers and architects, the sustainability of the adhesives used plays a very important role. After all, they are a fundamental part of modern wood construction. Thanks to Henkel's commitment to pioneer innovative solutions, engineered wood adhesives are becoming a vital building block on the path to even greater sustainability."

Used globally, the Loctite HB S product series has introduced an even more sustainable option with the addition of the ECO variant to the product range. Loctite HB S ECO is a one-component polyurethane adhesive that is free of volatile organic compounds and solvents. The adhesive, Henkel says, is manufactured with 63% bio-based materials and is certified according to the ISCC PLUS mass balance method. Henkel continues that, compared to conventional HB S solutions, the ECO variant generates 66% lower CO₂eq emissions.

Loctite CR 821 ECO combines stability and aesthetics in sustainable timber construction.

As a bio-based two-component polyurethane resin, Loctite CR 821 ECO enables invisible bonding of hybrid wood construction elements. With easy product handling due to its excellent flow properties, the product is versatile and offers the highest performance, including in certified load-bearing applications such as glued-in-rods. The ECO variant additionally improves the environmental footprint – as Henkel attests that CO₂ emissions are 62% lower than a fossil-based version. The product was developed with 71% percent bio-based materials and is partly ISCC PLUS certified.