You are here: EPA Home Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Pollution 

Prevention and Toxics Green Chemistry Presidential GC Challenge Past Awards 2007 

Greener Synthetic Pathways Award 

2007 Greener Synthetic Pathways 

Award 

Professor Kaichang Li, Oregon State University 

Columbia Forest Products 

Hercules Incorporated 

Development and Commercial Application of Environmentally Friendly Adhesives for Wood 

Composites 

Since the 1940s, the wood composites industry has been using synthetic adhesive resins to 

bind wood pieces into composites, such as plywood, particleboard, and fiberboard. The 

industry has been the predominate user of formaldehyde-based adhesives such as phenol–

formaldehyde and urea–formaldehyde (UF) resins. Formaldehyde is a probable human 

carcinogen. The manufacture and use of wood composite panels bonded with formaldehydebased resins release formaldehyde into the air, creating hazards for both workers and 

consumers. 

Inspired by the superior properties of the protein that mussels use to adhere to rocks, 

Professor Li and his group at Oregon State University invented environmentally friendly wood 

adhesives based on abundant, renewable soy flour. Professor Li modified some of the amino 

acids in soy protein to resemble those of mussels’ adhesive protein. Hercules Incorporated 

provided a critical curing agent and the expertise to apply it to commercial production of 

plywood. 

Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge 

PGCC 

Home 

Focus 

Areas 

Award 

Categories 

Selection

Criteria 

How To

Enter 

Award 

Winners 

Founding

Partners 

Awards

Timeline 

Innovation and Benefits: Adhesives used in manufacturing 

plywood and other wood composites often contain formaldehyde, 

which is toxic. Professor Kaichang Li of Oregon State University, 

Columbia Forest Products, and Hercules Incorporated developed 

an alternate adhesive made from soy flour. Their environmentally 

friendly adhesive is stronger than and cost-competitive with 

conventional adhesives. During 2006, Columbia used the new, 

soy-based adhesive to replace more than 47 million pounds of 

conventional formaldehyde-based adhesives. 

Green Chemistry

http://www.epa.gov/gcc/pubs/pgcc/winners/gspa07.html

Last updated on Monday, June 20, 2011

2007 Greener Synthetic Pathways Award | Green Chemistry | US EPA Page 1 of 2

http://www.epa.gov/gcc/pubs/pgcc/winners/gspa07.html 8/9/2011
Oregon State University, Columbia Forest Products (CFP), and Hercules have jointly 

commercialized soy-based adhesives to produce cost-competitive plywood and particleboard 

for interior uses. The soy-based adhesives do not contain formaldehyde or use formaldehyde 

as a raw material. They are environmentally friendly, cost-competitive with the UF resin in 

plywood, and superior to the UF resin in strength and water resistance. All CFP plywood 

plants now use soy-based adhesives, replacing more than 47 million pounds of the toxic UF 

resin in 2006 and reducing the emission of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from each CFP 

plant by 50 to 90 percent. This new CFP plywood is sold under the PureBondTM name. During 

2007, CFP will replace UF at its particleboard plant; the company is also seeking 

arrangements with other manufacturers to further the adoption of this technology. 

With this technology, those who make and use furniture, kitchen cabinetry, and other wood 

composite materials have a high-performing formaldehyde-free alternative. As a result, 

indoor air quality in homes and offices could improve significantly. This technology represents 

the first cost-competitive, environmentally friendly adhesive that can replace the toxic UF 

resin. The technology can greatly enhance the global competitiveness of U.S. wood 

composite companies. In addition, by creating a new market for soy flour, currently in oversupply, this technology provides economic benefits for soybean farmers. 

Note: Disclaimer

Read on about the 2007 Greener Reaction Conditions Award. 

Return to Past Awards page. 

2007 Greener Synthetic Pathways Award | Green Chemistry | US EPA Page 2 of 2

http://www.epa.gov/gcc/pubs/pgcc/winners/gspa07.html 8/9/2011