The European market for biobased adhesives is on the verge of substantial growth. This is the conclusion of market research firm Ceresana in a new market study, the first to specifically map the European market for so-called green adhesives. European sales of biobased adhesives are estimated at approximately 1,5 billion euros in 2034, with an expected annual growth of over 3 percent. With this, the study confirms a broader trend: biobased alternatives to fossil raw materials are rapidly gaining ground in the adhesives industry as well.
More than 15 percent of all adhesives are already bio-based.
Adhesive is an everyday yet indispensable industrial product, found in paper and packaging, construction, woodworking, and increasingly in high-value industrial applications. Today, the market is still largely dominated by petroleum-based products. Nevertheless, according to previous Ceresana research into the global adhesives market, more than 15 percent of all adhesives worldwide are already wholly or partially derived from renewable raw materials. The expected global turnover for bio-based adhesives amounts to approximately 4,5 billion dollars in 2034.
Raw materials such as sugar, starch, and soy form the basis for a wide range of bio-based adhesive products. These are not only derived from plant-based waste streams but also offer functional advantages in many applications: they are often solvent-free, low-emitter, and biodegradable at the end of their life cycle.
From paper glue to industrial composites
Bio-based adhesives have been used for quite some time in the paper and packaging industry, which accounts for the largest share of green adhesive sales worldwide. However, the application is expanding rapidly. Hot melt adhesives, construction adhesives, and thermoplastic bonding films for lightweight composites are now among the application areas where bioadhesives also meet demanding industrial standards.
This broadening is relevant for the biobased construction sector in the Netherlands and Europe, where biobased adhesives play a crucial role in products such as CLT and biobased panel materials. Several European manufacturers have already switched to plant-based biobased binders as an alternative to fossil resins and adhesives.
Drivers: regulations, health, and circularity
The growth of biobased adhesives is driven by a combination of factors. Stricter European regulations regarding hazardous substances, increasing attention to indoor air quality, and the broader shift towards a circular bioeconomy make biobased alternatives more attractive. The further professionalization of production and declining costs resulting from economies of scale also contribute to the competitive position of green adhesives relative to fossil-based variants.
Ceresana broadly monitors the European market for biobased materials. The agency has previously published studies on biobased insulation materials, biobased paints and coatings, and biobased surfactants, markets that all show a similar growth trend.
Source: Ceresana
Photo: meadow, Adobe Stock
