Low VOC Adhesives Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2024 - 2030)

Low VOC Adhesives Market Size

Low-VOC Adhesives Market Trends and Growth Drivers

Rise of Water-Based Adhesive Is Key Trend in Market

• Rising usage of water-based adhesive are key trend in the market because they have several advantages which makes them popular across various application.
• These adhesives have substantially lower VOC emissions since they employ water as a solvent rather than organic solvents.
• They lower health hazards for both workers and customers because they are safer to use and more ecologically friendly.
• Additionally, these water-based adhesives are less expensive to produce than solvent-based adhesive which makes them an ideal option for cost-conscious industries.
• Water-based adhesives also have strong bonding strength and are versatile enough to work with a variety of substrates, such as paper, wood, fabric, and some plastics.
• Due to their adaptability, they are suitable for use in bookbinding, carpentry, packaging, and textiles.
• Moreover, these adhesives can be applied using several ways such as as rolling, brushing, or spraying, and they are simple to clean up with water, negating the need for strong chemicals.

Technological Advancements Are Major Trend in Market

• Technological developments are a key trend in the low-VOC adhesives market, stimulating innovation and improving the products' performance and sustainability.
• Bio-based adhesives reflect a substantial technological advancement. Renewable raw ingredients such as plant-based oils, starches, and resins are used in the formulation of these adhesives.
• Bio-based adhesives are a more environmentally friendly alternative since they have fewer VOC emissions and reduce dependence on petroleum-based chemicals.
• Moreover, Nanotechnology is another technological advancements. Manufacturers are able to improve adhesives' mechanical qualities and functioning by adding nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles and nanofibers, into adhesive formulations.

Increasing Demand in Construction and Automotive Industries Is Major Driver for Market

• Building standards and regulations, such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in the U.S. and BREEAM in Europe, mandate the use of low-VOC materials to enhance indoor air quality and reduce environmental impact.
• These standards have become benchmarks for sustainable construction, pushing builders and developers to use low-VOC adhesives in their projects.
• These adhesives reduce the amount of toxic chemicals released into the air, improving indoor and outdoor air quality.
• Furthermore, there is a noticeable shift in the construction industry toward green building practices.
• Due to this, sustainable materials, including low-VOC adhesives, are in demand.
• These adhesives aid in the construction of environmentally responsible structures that lessen overall carbon emissions and promote environmental stewardship.

Stringent Environmental Regulations by Government Are Major Challenge for Market

• Governments throughout the world are implementing strict environmental rules is propelling the market's growth.
• Regulations from the European Union, such as the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) framework, provide detailed standards for the use of chemicals, particularly VOCs, across Europe.
• These rules restrict the amount of VOCs in adhesives and require stringent testing and certification procedures to guarantee that only safe and eco-friendly goods are distributed.
• These rules are increasing the cost of manufacturing, which is expected to impede market expansion and have an impact on price patterns.

Low-VOC Adhesives Market Analysis

Technology Analysis

• The water-based adhesive will hold the largest market share, of 55%, in 2024 due to its advantages over solvent-based adhesives such as user-friendly, easy applicability, low activation temperatures, minimum health risks, and no release of toxic fumes.
• They are widely utilized in a variety of industries, including construction, woodworking, and packing.
• These adhesives are a recommended option for applications needing low toxicity and decreased environmental effect because they have high adhesion properties and are simple to handle and clean up after.
• Applications of water-based adhesives include corrugating, paper lamination, bags and sacks, folding cartons, envelopes, cores and cups, graphic arts, woodworking, and labeling and flooring.
• Reactive adhesives will be the fastest growing category in the forecast period due to their mechanical properties, resistance to chemicals and environmental conditions, and strong bonding capabilities.

The technologies analyzed in this report are:

• Water-Based (Largest Category)
• Reactive (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Hot-Melt
• Pressure-Sensitive

Resin Analysis

• Acrylic will hold the largest market share, of 35%, in 2024 due to their adaptability, durability, and environmental advantages, which are in line with the growing market for environment-friendly products.
• Their superior resistance to environmental elements including moisture and UV light makes them ideal for a range of uses, including packaging, automotive, and construction.
• Polyurethane adhesives are experiencing rapid growth due to their superior performance characteristics, such as flexibility, durability, and high bond strength.
• The demand for polyurethane adhesives arises from their use in lightweight materials and the movement towards environmentally friendly and low-emission products.

The resins analyzed in this report are:

• Polyvinyl Acetate
• Acrylic (Largest Category)
• Polyurethane (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate
• Epoxy
• Styrenic Block
• Others

End Use Analysis

• The paper & packaging industry will hold the largest market share, of 30%, in 2024.
• This is due to the increasing demand and usage of eco-friendly and sustainable packaging products such as corrugated boxes and cases & cartons. Additionally, the FDA approves low-VOC adhesives for food packaging.
• Moreover, the green building and construction industry is also playing a significant role in booming the market.
• The pressure-sensitive adhesive technology is used for flooring purposes such as carpet and vinyl floor tiles.
• The top five countries with a maximum number of green buildings are the U.S., China, Canada, India, and the U.A.E.
• In terms of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications, the U.S. continues to be the largest market, accounting for more than 556 million square feet of certified space by 2023.
• Despite not being listed in the international rankings, the U.S. continues to dominate the world in green building space.
• Furthermore, the automotive and transportation industry is also one of the major end-use industries, as consumers are demanding better air quality by eliminating VOC emissions within the interior of vehicles, to prevent health issues caused by the exposure to toxic elements.
• To fulfill the demand, manufacturers prefer hot-melt adhesives as they have stable performance, are environment-friendly, and do not use solvents.

The end uses analyzed in this report are:

• Paper & Packaging (Largest Category)
• Building & Construction (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Furniture
• Automotive & Transportation
• Footwear & Leather
• Consumer & DIY
• Medical Devices
• Others

Geographical Analysis

• The APAC market is the largest market, and it is expected to register the highest growth during the forecast period. Its 2024 estimated share is 45%, while its future CAGR is forecast to be 7.2%.
• This is because countries, such as India, China, and South Korea, along with other Southeastern nations of the region, are attracting manufacturers to set up production units of low-VOC adhesives.
• Moreover, low labor costs and an increase in customer base in the region are other major factors for the same.
• Furthermore, higher penetration of online shopping in the region is driven by the rising income levels and the surging consumption power of individuals, which lead to the increasing demand for low-VOC adhesives.
• Moreover, in the aerospace and automotive industries, low-VOC adhesives are largely used in the region.
• Additionally, the rapid urbanization in this region is fueling the construction sector, due to which there is demand for low-VOC adhesives in building materials, furniture, and interior design applications.

The regions analyzed in this report are:

• North America
  • U.S. (Larger Country)
  • Canada (Faster-Growing Country)
• Europe
  • Germany (Largest Country)
  • France
  • U.K. (Fastest-Growing Country)
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific (Largest and Fastest Growing Region)
  • China (Largest Country)
  • India (Fastest-Growing Country)
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Rest of APAC
• Latin America
  • Brazil (Largest Country)
  • Mexico (Fastest-Growing Country)
  • Rest of LATAM
• Middle East and Africa
  • U.A.E.
  • Saudi Arabia (Largest Country)
  • South Africa (Fastest-Growing Country)
  • Rest of MEA

Low-VOC Adhesives Market Share

The global market for low-VOC adhesives is fragmented due to the presence of numerous players across various segments, including water-based, reactive, hot-melt, and pressure-sensitive adhesives. This fragmentation is driven by diverse application areas such as construction, automotive, and packaging, regional preferences and regulations, and continuous technological innovations. Companies constantly create new formulations and specialized products in an effort to satisfy differing regulatory requirements and customer preferences, which contributes to a highly segmented market environment.

Low-VOC Adhesives Company News

• In May 2024, H.B. Fuller acquired ND Industries. The acquisition includes ND Industries’ Vibra-Tite brand products, which H.B. Fuller will add to its current product line of epoxy, cyanoacrylate, UV curable, and anaerobic materials.
• In February 2024, WACKER presented two dispersible polymer powders for formulating tile adhesives, which will soon be introduced into the growing Indian market in construction and coatings, at PAINTINDIA.
• In August 2023, Bostik introduced the RecyClass laminating adhesive at the Global Packaging Summit 2023.
• In November 2022, Huntsman added ARALDITE 2081 adhesive to its range of low-odor, non-flammable, primer-free adhesives.
• In March 2022, Toyochem Co. Ltd., the polymers and coatings arm of Japan’s Toyo Ink Group, launched a new low-odor, low-VOC acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), the Oribain EXK 21-046, for use in enclosed spaces, such as vehicles and building interiors.